CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

Interview

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BLITZER: She doesn't indeed. All right. Thanks very much, Evan, for that report.

Joining us now, the House majority leader, Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

Leader, thank you so much for joining us. REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD), MAJORITY LEADER: You bet, Wolf. Glad to be

with you.

BLITZER: All right. Let's begin with today's global threat -- threat assessment from the nation's top intelligence chiefs. On several occasions, they directly contradicted the president. Do you believe President Trump is deliberately ignoring what the intelligence leadership of the United States is telling him?

HOYER: Frankly, what I think the president does is he states facts to conform to his beliefs, as opposed to having his beliefs based upon facts. That's very disappointing, and it's also very dangerous.

And I think Director Coats's presentation today and your reporter just pointed out how, on almost every national security challenge, the president is in denial or has a different view than the intelligence community. And that's unfortunate. I t's not good for the country. And, as you pointed out, it's not good for allies, because they don't think they can rely on us, which is dangerous for them and for us.

BLITZER: You've been in Washington for a long time. I've been around for a long time. I don't remember a time where a president has so publicly disagreed with what the intelligence leadership is telling him. Do you remember a time like that?

HOYER: I do not. Under either Republican or Democratic presidents, I think they all respect it. That doesn't mean they agreed on every policy move that resulted from the facts, but at least they agreed that they were the facts that the intelligence community, in good faith and with very careful research, had advised the country and the president of. Again, it's very disappointing, and I think it's unprecedented.

BLITZER: I suspect it is unprecedented. But let's turn to the ongoing negotiations to try to avoid another government shutdown. Would House Democrats offer any amount of funding for some sort of border wall or steel barriers or significant fencing, if it meant significant concessions for -- from the president?

HOYER: Well, first of all, obviously, this is going to be up to the conferees. But Ms. Roybal-Allard, who is the chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, has put proposals on the table which would be billions of dollars to try to beef up security at the border.

[17:15:06] We want border security. We support border security. And obviously, the other side is going to put on the table their proposals, which are going to include some sort of barriers that they believe are necessary. And the conferees are going to discuss that. I don't want to prejudge what they're going to do.

But I am convinced, knowing the people who are on the conference committee, that they're going to look at each other's proposals honestly and with a view towards coming to agreement.

Because I think we all agree that shutting down the government is not a good policy. It undermines the committee, obviously, federal employees, but it undermines the economy and undermines the confidence of business community and the confidence of our allies.

So I believe there's going to be very good faith negotiations. and I think one of the things that we know in a democracy, you've got to get to a compromise. Both sides have to feel like they've gotten something that they think is important.

So we'll see what happens. I don't want to prejudge it. But I think the conferees are going to be open to discussion of the other's view.

BLITZER: Let's see if they can work out some sort of deal.

The White House, as you know, does not have a representative at these -- these negotiations that are underway right now. Bicameral, bipartisan. Do you worry that the president might, in the end, shoot down a potential compromised hammered off by these Democrats and Republicans?

HOYER: Well, I think, Wolf, you have to worry about that. Because the United States Senate plans the resolution that would have kept the government open and funded the government through February 8. And they thought the president was for that. And by the time it got to the House, the president indicated he was not for it and, unfortunately, the House did not pass it. Therefore, I don't think you can be sure.

But what the process is, the legislature makes policy. And it sends that policy to the president. He can agree with it or he can veto it and send it back to us for further action.

But there is no doubt that the president is going to be in touch with members of the conference committee from his side of the aisle, I'm sure, and his legislative people are going to be in touch. That's the way it happens.

As you know, I was on the Appropriations Committee for many many years. And obviously, you're in touch with the administration, and you know, if it's not your administration, that they're in touch with the conferees and, very frankly, many times in touch with you.

So I'm sure the White House is going to be watching this. The issue is whether or not, if they say they agree, that they stick with what they agreed to.

BLITZER: Let's see what happens. The stakes are clearly enormous right now. The House majority leader, Steny Hoyer, thanks for joining us.

HOYER: Thank you very much, Wolf.

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