PLUS: Ryan on Sunday’s NFL Super Bowl Game: “I Would Put the Odds on the Patriots”
FEB. 3, 2017 – In an exclusive sit-down interview with “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) addressed the Trump administration’s new Iran sanctions: “I don’t think you’re going to go back and reconstitute the multilateral sanctions that were in place.”
When asked if we should try, Ryan said, “We should expend our effort where it can pay off the most. And that’s why I think what they’re doing now does make a lot of sense.”
“It couldn’t get any worse than what we already had,” he added. “So I think they [Iran] need to know that they’re going to be held to account.” Watch: http://nbcnews.to/2kqcr8k.
A Green Bay Packers fan like Todd, Ryan is “rooting for a good game” when it comes to Sunday’s NFL Super Bowl game. “The Patriots’ defense is really good. If they can shut down Julio Jones [wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons], I think they can win this game. So I bet the odds are with them.” Watch: http://nbcnews.to/2kqahoZ.
Transcripts of these interview excerpts are below; if using the attached photos, please include credit to “NBC News/Bill Plowman.”
Tune in this Sunday for more from Todd’s exclusive interview with Speaker Ryan as well as exclusive interview with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and an interview with Vice President Mike Pence.
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ON IRAN SANCTIONS
CHUCK TODD:
Let’s start with news of the– of Friday. Iran sanctions, new executive order signed. There is wide support in Congress for more sanctions on Iran—
PAUL RYAN:
That’s right.
CHUCK TODD:
That is clear. Let me ask you this, though. Would you like to see the beginnings of trying to get out of the nuclear deal?
PAUL RYAN:
Well, a lot of that toothpaste is already out of the tube. I never supported the deal in the first place. I thought it was a huge mistake. But the multilateral sanctions are done. So—
CHUCK TODD:
Done meaning you’re not going to be able to put that back together–
PAUL RYAN:
Yeah, I don’t think you’re going to go back and reconstitute the multilateral sanctions that were in place.
CHUCK TODD:
Should we try, though?
RYAN:
So, I don’t think we– I think we should expend our effort where it can pay off the most. And that’s why I think what they’re doing now does make a lot of sense. So I think the key is to rigorously enforce this deal. But also, remember, they’re testing ballistic missiles. They’re still the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world. Human rights abuses galore.
And so those are where I think we also need to ratchet up sanctions. I think what this administration is doing, which I agree with, is saying, “We have a new administration, and we’re going to hold you, Iran, to account.” This last administration did not do that. This new administration needs to do that. And I think that’s what you’re getting here.
CHUCK TODD:
Is there– Where is the line here? Are you concerned that Iran might retaliate, and suddenly we’re a part of the proxy war in Yemen? I mean–
PAUL RYAN:
But look what they were doing, we’re appeasing them already. So it couldn’t get worse–
CHUCK TODD:
You thought too much appeasement–
PAUL RYAN:
–yeah, it couldn’t get any worse than what we already had. So I think they need to know that they’re going to be held to account. Because if left– If we don’t do that, then they’re going to go off and do all these other things. Remember, they are a belligerent force in the Middle East. Look at what they’re trying to do to destabilize the region with all their proxies. Look at what they’re doing to finance terrorism, their human rights abuses, testing ballistic missiles. You see they write on the side of their ballistic missiles in Hebrew, Farsi and English, “Death to Israel and death to America.” This is not a peaceful nation.
CHUCK TODD:
Yet at the same time, they’re helping to destabilize Syria in some ways. But they’re on the same side as Russia. And that, it provides an awkward situation–
PAUL RYAN:
Yeah, it does. It does.
CHUCK TODD:
–with this administration. What would be your advice to this administration? He’s getting tough on Iran. But Russia’s just as destabilizing in the region. Do you agree with that, first of all? That Russia is just as destabilizing?
PAUL RYAN:
Yes. Well, no, no. I wouldn’t say just as, as Iran. Nobody holds a candle to Iran’s destabilization. So I think– I don’t think you can equate those two. But remember why we are here. The policies of the last administration were horrible with respect to Syria. I think because of the Obama administration policies in Syria is why we have both Russia and Iran in Syria. So now the question is, on a go-forward basis, what’s the best way to resolve this? And I think that’s what this new administration is trying to figure out.
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ON SUNDAY’S SUPER BOWL GAME
CHUCK TODD:
How are you going to watch the Super Bowl, since we don’t have anybody to root for us Packer fans?
PAUL RYAN:
Yeah, I know. It’s–
CHUCK TODD:
What are you rooting for? What result are you rooting for?
PAUL RYAN:
I’m rooting for a good game. I’m rooting for a good game.
CHUCK TODD:
And you want drama with Goodell at the end?
PAUL RYAN:
Yeah, yeah. That would be actually kind of fun to watch. You know, Roger handing the trophy over to the Krafts. That would be actually kind of interesting.
CHUCK TODD:
I think that’s a train wreck a lot of people want to watch.
PAUL RYAN:
If they can shut down Julio Jones, which they just swarm. The Patriots’ defense is really good. If they can shut down Julio Jones, I think they can win this game. So I bet the odds are with them. I haven’t looked at the actual odds, but I would put the odds on the Patriots. We’ve got to work on our defensive backfield, man–
CHUCK TODD:
Yes, we do.
PAUL RYAN:
Holy cow. We’ve got some real injury problems. So I’m just looking for a good game. I’m going to watch it at home with my family, and my brother and his family will probably come over. You know, it’s brats, it’s Pabst, Miller, chips, salsa, stuff like that.
CHUCK TODD:
Very good. Enjoy the game. Thank you sir.
PAUL RYAN:
Go Packers.
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