Trump: Now DRC And Rwanda Can Hug, Hold Hands, And Take Advantage Of The U.S. Economically Like Every Other Country
President Donald Trump thanked Presidents Felix Tshisekedi of Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda for finalizing a June ceasefire deal to end the war in Eastern Congo. You can see the full event here. “I think they’ve spent a lot of time killing each other, and now they’re going to spend a lot of time hugging, holding hands, and taking advantage of the United States of America economically like every other country does,” Trump joked. “They’re going to do very well. But they do have some valuable, some very valuable things. They’re going to have a lot of money and a lot of success, and I think they’re going to get along really well, so I hope so.”
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thanks to the efforts of Secretary Rubio and Mr. Boulos, Rwanda and the DRC reached a landmark agreement to move toward peace. They started the process. I met with some of their great representatives, who are here also, and we started a great process. The compact we’re signing today, which will be known as the Washington Accords – everybody sort of liked that name – formalizes the terms agreed to in June, including a permanent ceasefire, the disarmament of non-state forces, provisions for refugees to return to their homes, and justice and accountability for those who have committed illegal atrocities. Very importantly, this agreement also creates a new framework for economic prosperity. There’s tremendous wealth in those – in that beautiful earth. It’s a beautiful earth, but it was stained badly with blood, tremendous amounts of blood, but in the region that will support a lasting peace. And the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda have agreed to more closely integrate their economies with each other rather than fighting, and they’ll be doing that. And these two gentlemen are very smart, and I think they liked each other a lot. I spent time with them. I think they liked – some people may be surprised – I really do. I think they’ve spent a lot of time killing each other, and now they’re going to spend a lot of time hugging, holding hands, and taking advantage of the United States of America economically like every other country does. So they’re going to do very well. But they do have some valuable, some very valuable things. They’re going to have a lot of money and a lot of success, and I think they’re going to get along really well, so I hope so. Thank you very much. Look at them. Look at the way they love each other. Thank you.
