Trump-Duterte phone call: Full transcript

• 24 May 2017 at 09:493,489 viewed4 comments
• WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS

The following is apparently the full transcript of the phone call initiated April 29 by US President Donald Trump to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

The transcript, from a document classified ‘Confidential’ was first obtained by the website The Inercept.

The transcript below is directly from the Confidential document, including typos, short forms, etc.

Note: POTUS is “president of the United States”. PRRD is “Philippines Republic [President] Rodrigo Duterte”

PRRD: This is PRRD speaking. Yes, speaking.

US operator : Yes, Sir, just one moment for President Trump pls.

PRRD: Thank you.

POTUS: Mr president.

PRRD: President Trump, thank you for calling, and Good evening, its night over here

POTUS: Okay I hope its not too late? Its okay isn’t it? Is it too late?

PRRD: No its okay we are just having dinner with some members of ASEAN.

POTUS: Oh ok good, because (I) know you don’t sleep much, you’re just like me. You are not a person who goes to bed at all. I know that, right?

PRRD: Yes. You are right Mr President

POTUS: I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem. Many countries have the problem, we have a problem, but what a great job you are doing and I just wanted to call and tell you that.

PRRD: Thank you Mr President. This is the scourge Of my nation now and I have to do something to preserve the Filipino nation.

POTUS: I understand that and fully understand that and I think we had a previous President who did not understand that, but I understand that and we have spoken about this before.

PRRD: Yes I know that. Thank you. Yes

POTUS: so how is everyone doing, how is the Phls doing?

PRRD: We are doing fine Mr president but in the ASEAN summit every member state was really nervous about situation in Korean peninsula but we would like to tell you that we support you and keep on the pressure because as long as those rockets and warheads are in the hands of Kim Jon Un we will never safe as there’s not telling what will happen next

POTUS: Whats your opinion of him, Rodrigo? Are dealing with someone who stable or not stable?

PRRD: He is not stable, Mr president, as he keeps on smiling when he explodes a rocket. He even has gone against China which is the last country he should rebuke. But it seems from his face he is laughing always and theres as dangerous toy in his hands which could create so much agony and suffering for all mankind

POTUS: Well, he has got the powder but he doesn’t have the delivery system. All his rockets are crashing. That’s the good news. But eventually when he ges that delivery system … What do you think about China? Does China have power over him?

PRRD: Yes at the end of the day, the last card, the ace has to be With China. Its only China. He is playing with his bombs. his toys and from the looks of it, his mind is not working well and he might just go crazy one moment. China should make a last ditch effort to him tell to lay off. China will play a very important role there.

POTUS: We have a lot of firepower over there. We have two submarines – the best in the world – we have two nuclear submarines – not that we want to use them at all. I’ve never seen anything like they are but we don’t have to use this but he could be crazy so we will see what happens.

PRRD: Every generation has a mad man – in our generation is Kim Jung Un- you are dealing with a very delicate problem

POTUS: we can handle it

PRRD: but you can keep the pressure on him.

POTUS: I hope China solves the problem. They really have the means because a great degree of their stuff come through China. They are doing certain things, like not accepting calls. But if China doesn’t do it, we will do it

PRRD: I will try to make a call to President Xi Jinping and I will try to tell him that if we will remain to be peaceful, China has the card. The other option is a nuclear blast which is not good for everybody.

POTUS: You can tell him I am counting on him. I have a very good relationship with him. I had him in Florida for two days and got to know him well. He is a good guy.

PRRD: I will do that. I will call his Ambassador here and will make an appointment to call him. It will be good if you can keep on the pressure on Kim but actually we are all worried as we are all are within the striking distance of his rockets. We are all afraid

POTUS: We can’t let a madman with nuclear weapons let on the loose like that. We have a lot of firepower, more than he has, times 20 but we don’t want to use it. You will be in good shape

PRRD: We believe it, we know it all along. I will try to make a call tmrw to China

POTUS: Pls call China and tell them we are all counting on China. Tell the President – we became friends for two days – he was great.

On another subject, I am coming to see you I guess sometime

PRRD: November hopefully, we will be happy to see you

POTUS: Thank you Mr President. You are a good man. Yes, certainly in November Welcome and thank you and we will be happy to see you, Rodrigo. I look forward to seeing you.
If you want to come to the Oval office, I will love to have you in Oval Office. Anytime you want to come.
I will be in the Phls in Nov, but anytime if you are in DC or anywhere, come see me in the Oval office.
Work it out with your staff. Seriously, if you want to come over, just let us know.
Just take care of yourself, and we will take care of North Korea.
Keep up good work, you are doing an amazing job.
Say hello to people of the Philippines for me.

PRRD: They know that you are calling. It is the last day of the ASEAN Summit and everyone was asking. Sultan Bolkiah just left but I will tell remaining guys here what you told me. We are all for peace, there’s no secret about that.

POTUS: Good, you take care of yourself, come see me before November, you are invited anytime.

PRRD: I will do that Mr President. Thank you for the concern. God bless you Mr President.

POTUS: Take care of yourself, Rodrigo. God bless you.