The Green New Deal would completely abolish the American oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear power industries, of which we're now the leader in the world. We're the biggest now in the world because of moves that I've made. (Applause.) Happened over the last two years, by the way.
And we're trying to speed up pipelines in Texas, which would have taken 15 years. We think we're almost very close to getting them approved. When that happens, we'll go probably another 30 to 40 percent. We need pipeline approval. We're going to have it very quickly. It would have taken - it was going to be a 14- to 15-year process. We should have it done. We'll pick up 30 to 40 percent more. (Applause.)
Their plan would remove every gas-powered car from American roads. Oh, that's not so bad. They want you to have one car instead of two, and it should be electric, okay? So tell people, no more cars. No more cars.
I think the auto industry is not going to do too well under this plan. What do you think, Meadows? How is this? Will the auto industry be good? I don't think so. It's not looking good. I think maybe - maybe you're going to see some bad stock prices if that passes. It would end air travel. But you'll get on a train, don't worry about it. You just have to cross off about 95 percent of the world.
And it would force the destruction or renovation of virtually every existing structure in the United States. New York City would have to rip down buildings and rebuild them again. I don't think so. This is the craziest plan, and yet I see senators that are there for 20 years - white hair. See, I don't have white hair. (Laughter and applause.) I don't have white hair.
No, I see these white-haired, longtime senators standing behind this young woman, and she's ranting and raving like a lunatic. (Laughter.) And these senators - these senators: "Yes, I agree with this. Yes, I agree."
The crazy female senator from the state of Ohio, the state of Hawaii. Right? She's like - she's like a crazed person. What she said about men is so bad. What she said about men is so bad. But she's standing in the hallway. And she didn't know too much about the plan because she's - you know, she can't understand that plan. (Laughter.) Which probably makes her smart, actually.
Now, this is the senator from Hawaii, and they're saying to her, "What do you think? Well, I don't know how people are going to get to Hawaii, but I'm in favor of the plan." (Laughter and applause.) I don't get it. I don't get it. I don't get it.
So she's in favor of the plan, but you won't be able to get to - well, we can take boats, I guess. We'll go back to boats.
This is the new Democrat platform for the - and I don't want to talk them out of it. I don't. I don't. I swear I don't. This is a killer.
I got to get off this subject. I want them to embrace this plan. I want them to go and sell this plan. I just want to be the Republican that runs against them for that. (Applause.) I'm going to regret this speech. This speech should have been delivered one year from now, not now, damn it. (Laughter.) Because they're going to grab out together, and they're going to say, "You know, this guy is really laying for us." I should've saved the Pocahontas thing for another year. (Laughter.) Because I've destroyed her political career, and now I won't get a chance to run against her, and I would've loved it. (Laughter.)
We got to - you know, I don't want to knock out all of the good stuff and end up with somebody that's actually got talent. That would be terrible. (Laughter and applause.)
So I do like the Green New Deal. (Laughter.) I respect it greatly. It should be part of the dialogue of the next election. (Laughter and applause.) And I think it has tremendous promise and tremendous potential for the future of our country.
Socialism is not about the environment. It's not about justice. It's not about virtue. Socialism is about only one thing. It's called "power for the ruling class." That's what it is. (Applause.) Look at what's happening in Venezuela and so many other places.
All of us are here today because we know that the future does not belong to those who believe in socialism. (Applause.) And I heard, yesterday, a great speech from our Vice President Mike Pence, talking about this very subject - (applause) - and talking about it beautifully. (Applause.)
The future belongs to those who believe in freedom. I have said it before and I'll say it again: America will never be a socialist country - ever. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!
THE PRESIDENT: Young Americans - I love young Americans. Speaking of young Americans - Candace, stand up. (Applause.) Candace is getting married. (Applause.) Stand up. You've been incredible. Thank you. Your whole group has been great. You're getting married. Seems like a nice guy to me. (Laughter.) Congratulations. You've been so great. Thank you very much, Candace. Thanks. (Applause.)
And, Charlie, what a job you're doing. Where's Charlie? Where's Charlie? Where is Charlie Kirk? Because he has done an incredible job. Thank you very much, Charlie. (Applause.)
But young Americans like you are leading the revival of American liberty, sovereignty, and self-determination in the face of left-wing intolerance. The anger - the unbelievable anger - I see it every day. Fortunately, for you, it's mostly pointed at me. (Laughter.) You have the courage to speak the truth, to do what is right, and to fight for what you believe, and keep doing it. (Applause.)
We reject oppressive speech codes, censorship, political correctness, and every other attempt by the hard left to stop people from challenging ridiculous and dangerous ideas. These ideas are dangerous. (Applause.)
Instead, we believe in free speech, including online and including on campus. And, by the way, there's a young gentleman with us today. (Applause.) There's a young gentleman. I turned on my television the other day, and I saw somebody that was violently punched in the face. Violently punched. And I said that's disgusting. By a bully I'd like to do a lot of things.
But, of course, we would never do that. Because if I ever said violence, they would say, "Donald Trump attacked." No, no, no. Just for the media: I'm sure he's a lovely young man; just had a little temper tantrum. (Laughter.) I've been there before with those people. I don't want to do it again.
So, the man's name is Hayden Williams. (Applause.) Where's Hayden? Where is he? Where is he? Hayden, come up here. (Applause.) Come up here.
WILLIAMS: Thank you. Thank you. So, at the Leadership Institute, we're committed to making campuses great again. And I thank you so much for bringing me up here to let me speak.
It's great - it's great that I'm being recognized, and - but there's so many conservative students across the country who are facing discrimination, harassment, and worse, if they dare to speak up on campus. So I'm glad that we could - we could, you know, bring this to the forefront.
And I'd just like to say, you know, if these socialist progressives had their way, they would put our Constitution through the paper shredder in a heartbeat. So, you know, it's as important now than ever the work at Leadership Institute and Campus Reform - you know, exposing these liberal abuses to the public - (applause) - it's as important now as ever.
And these students - these students do it because they have a love of our nation and freedom, and frankly, a love for you, Mr. President.
So if you keep defending us, we'll keep defending you. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
WILLIAMS: Thank you. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Stay here for a second. So, here's the one thing.
I was going to call him, but I don't have to now. I see him here. But here's the one thing: I learned a number of things. First of all, he can take a punch. If Muhammad Ali could take a punch, he can take a punch. (Laughter.) Because you weren't going to go down no matter how - that was a hell of a hard punch. He was a strong guy. But you know what? You've got yourself a great lawyer. I know your lawyer. She is a great lawyer. Just tell her to do me a favor: Sue him. But he's probably got nothing, but sue him forever. But sue the college, the university. (Applause.) And maybe sue the state.
Ladies and gentlemen, he took a hard punch in the face for all of us. Remember that. He took a punch for all of us. And we can never allow that to happen.
And here is, in closing with Hayden - here's the good news: He is going to be a very wealthy young man. That's okay. (Laughter and applause.) Go get 'em, Hayden.
Today I'm proud to announce that I will be very soon signing an executive order requiring colleges and universities to support free speech - (applause) - if they want federal research dollars.
AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!
THE PRESIDENT: If they want our dollars, and we give it to them by the billions, they've got to allow people like Hayden and many other great young people, and old people, to speak. (Applause.) Free speech.
And if they don't, it will be very costly. That'll be signed very soon. Every day, we're restoring common sense and the timeless values that unite us all. We believe in the Constitution and the rule of law. We believe in the First Amendment right. And we believe in religious liberty. (Applause.) And we believe strongly in the Second Amendment and the right to keep and bear arms - (applause) - which is under siege, folks. They have a lot of plans. It's under siege. Be careful. But I'll protect you, I promise you that. I'll protect you. (Applause.) Because it all has to come through my office. And we hopefully are going to be here for six more years, so you're in good shape. (Applause.)
We believe in the American Dream, not in the socialist nightmare. And we believe in the words of our national motto: In God We Trust. (Applause.)
Every day, my presidency will defend American families. We will defend America's workers - our great, great cherished workers - that now we're taking care of. They're not losing their jobs. We're creating those jobs. We're not letting those companies destroy their lives anymore.
We will defend the American way of life, and we will always defend America's borders. Because without borders, as I've said many times before, we don't have a country. (Applause.)
The lawless chaos on our southern border provides a lucrative cash flow to some of the most dangerous criminal organizations on the planet. Deadly cartels constantly - daily, hourly - violate our borders to flood our cities with drugs that kill thousands and thousands of our citizens violently. What are these people talking about when they talk about the border? "Keep it open." Keep what open? Have you been there? Have you seen? I just got back. I've been there many times. I see what's happening. I don't like it.
But I have to tell you, our Border Patrol, our ICE agents, our law enforcement, the job they do - (applause) - and they don't have the backup of a wall, in many cases - the job they do is incredible.
These ruthless cartels terrorize innocent communities on both sides of the border and spread instability throughout our hemisphere. When I was there two weeks ago, 26 people were killed very close to where I was, on the Rio Grande. Sounds nice, right? The Rio Grande. Rough. Rough stuff. Twenty-six people were killed, and they were buried right near where I was standing. And the paper doesn't write about it. The news doesn't write about it.
In the last two years alone, ICE officers made 266,000 arrests. Think of what that means. Think of that - arrests. I'm not talking about people coming in. I'm talking they went out and arrested 266,000 people who have criminal records and, in some cases, for murder. Who the hell wants to do that? Thank God they're doing it because I don't want to do it. It's dangerous. (Applause.) It's hard. But they love our country, and they're tough people, but they love our country.
Including those charged or convicted of approximately 100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes, 25,000 burglaries, 4,000 kidnappings, and 4,000 violent murders. These are people that ICE is going in and getting, and either putting in jail or ideally bringing them back to other countries and letting them put in jail, because we don't want them. We don't want to have to pay for them for 50 years. You want them to pay a price, but we don't want to have to pay for them for 50 years.
And all the nonsense you hear about "the people that come in illegally are far better than the people we have" - it's not true, folks. Okay? It's false. It's false propaganda. (Applause.) Right?
