NEIL CAVUTO, HOST OF, "YOUR WORLD": On the phone with now is Donald Trump.
And, Donald, I'm thinking, as this storm gets ready to pound and we have markets, of course, that are planning on reopening business as usual on Monday morning, what if they don't?
DONALD TRUMP, CHAIRMAN & CEO, TRUMP HOTELS & CASINO RESORTS: Well, what I have found, Neil, is over the years I’ve just seen the media loves this and they always seem to make it worse than it ends up being. That being said --
CAVUTO: Well, not, not, not Fox, Don. I'm sure you just got that wrong. Go ahead.
TRUMP: No, Fox, other than Fox.
CAVUTO: Right. Right.
TRUMP: But other than Fox, of course.
CAVUTO: Other than Fox. Continue.
TRUMP: But the media loves it.
And I remember over the last three or four years, we have had maybe 10 storms that were going to wipe out New York City, snowstorms. And it turns out, I would say, where’s the snow? What happened? Oh, it missed us.
(LAUGHTER)
TRUMP: So, the media loves it. I’m sure the ratings are very good, but with all of that being said, you have to take it very seriously.
And as far as stores are concerned, certain types of stores are making an absolute bonanza, but that’s about it. Business will be very severely hurt. If you look at the Jersey Shore, if you look at different places, they’re going to be very hard-hit.
But there are certain types of stores that are absolutely making a windfall.
CAVUTO: You’re a pretty good expert on leadership and how business leaders, political leaders respond to this crisis. We were just hearing Governor Christie.
You’ve seen the swift actions that Governor Cuomo in New York has taken; I believe already moving to shut down the transit system afternoon tomorrow. So, Don, the news there is you can't take your subway ride tomorrow.
But what do you think of how they’re doing?
TRUMP: Well, I know Governor Christie. I know Governor Cuomo well.
And they’re doing what you have to do. I have not seen much of President Obama. I haven't seen a lot of leadership there. He’s still on vacation, I guess.
CAVUTO: Well, he has returned. He’s returned.
TRUMP: But Governor Christie, he is a great friend of mine and he's a great governor. And they are doing the right things.
I would say it’s awfully early to close the transit system, though, when the storm won't hit until Sunday morning. So it just seems to be very early to be shutting down the transit system in New York, when what are people going to do if they can't get transit?
CAVUTO: Yes.
TRUMP: But I will tell you that they’re doing probably what has to be done.
CAVUTO: Speaking of your view of some of these politicians, we’re hearing all sorts of reports that Governor Rick Perry has been in touch with you, a number of other of the prominent presidential candidates, I guess, trying to curry your favor.
A., have you been talking to them, in particular Governor Perry? What? What’s been going on?
TRUMP: Well, they’ve all been calling.
And we have a group people that like what I say, I guess, and they have been calling, and I have a lot of respect for a lot of them. I have great respect for some of them and I do have respect for Governor Perry and we have spoken on numerous occasions. That's right. He’ll be coming to New York soon.
CAVUTO: All right, but apparently a lot within the last couple of days. Is that true, with Governor Perry?
TRUMP: Well, we’ve spoken quite a bit. And I like him and I respect him.
CAVUTO: Does he call you? Does he call you? Do you call him?
TRUMP: He has called me.
CAVUTO: Really?
TRUMP: Yes, he has called me, and I think rightfully so.
CAVUTO: Right.
TRUMP: He’s somebody that is I really think doing a great campaign.
I sort of have to smile when they say, oh, gee, some of his statements were not proper. I think those statements were absolutely what people want to hear. And people are tired of political correctness.
(CROSSTALK) CAVUTO: Are you talking about the treasonous one about the Federal Reserve?
TRUMP: Yes. It was a figure of speech and they try and make it like it was a gaffe. That wasn't a gaffe.
And let me tell you something. He picked up plenty of votes with that particular statement, other than from the media.
CAVUTO: Well, you’re right about that.
Finally, your quick thought on a third-party run? It’s been put out there that a well-financed third-party candidate, given the frustration with Republicans and Democrats, could make a go of it. This year, your name invariably comes up. What about that?
TRUMP: Well, I think third party can absolutely happen. I really do.
And I wouldn't have said that maybe two or three years ago, but people truly dislike the Democrats. They truly dislike the leadership. They truly dislike the Republicans and they’re not happy with the deals that were made recently in Congress with the committee and all of the nonsense that they’re doing, instead of just cutting the hell out of expenses.
I think absolutely right now. I'm not saying it’s an easy go, but I think a third party could absolutely happen if it’s the right person. It has got to be absolutely the right person. And it really has to be someone this is either very wealthy or has access to a lot of money.
CAVUTO: That's you. That's you.
TRUMP: Well, I do qualify on those scores. That’s true.
CAVUTO: OK. Let us know.
Don, it's always a pleasure. Thank you very much.
TRUMP: Very good. So long, Neil.
CAVUTO: All right, Donald Trump.
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