Trump Announces $100 Billion SoftBank Investment and Sets Bold Economic Vision
President-Elect Declines to Reveal Stance on Preemptive Strikes Against Iran
Mar-a-Lago, Florida — Former President Donald J. Trump held his first press conference since his election victory at his Mar-a-Lago estate, highlighting major developments in investment, international relations, and domestic policy.
The event featured Masayoshi Son, founder and CEO of SoftBank, who announced a historic $100 billion investment in the United States. Trump celebrated this as a "monumental demonstration of confidence in America's future," emphasizing that it would create at least 100,000 jobs. He linked the move to a wave of post-election optimism, citing a 41% surge in small business optimism—the largest in 39 years.
“This historic investment will ensure that artificial intelligence and other industries of tomorrow are built right here in the USA,” Trump said, adding, “Masa [Son] is one of the most accomplished business leaders of our time, and his commitment to America speaks volumes.”
Trump shifted focus to global issues, addressing the escalating conflict in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. He expressed deep concern over the war's human toll, describing Ukraine as a “breadbasket for the world” that has become a “demolition site.”
“There’s nothing to stop a bullet but a body,” Trump said. “The number of soldiers being killed on both sides is astronomical. It’s a carnage we haven’t seen since the Second World War. It’s got to be stopped, and I’m doing my best to stop it.”
Regarding the Middle East, Trump reaffirmed his efforts to secure the release of hostages and prevent further escalation, vowing strong action if progress isn't made by his inauguration date. “If these hostages aren’t back home by that date, all hell’s going to break out,” he warned. Trump declined to specify whether he would support or engage in a preemptive strike on Israel or Iran. He also refrained from commenting on the possibility of Israel striking Iran, stating that it is unwise to reveal plans or intentions regarding future actions.
Trump addressed concerns about the presence of 900 U.S. troops in Syria and questioned the logic of maintaining such deployments in the face of significant regional military forces. Reflecting on a prior decision to withdraw 5,000 troops, he stated, “We have 5,000 soldiers in between a 5-million-person army and a 250,000-person army, and I asked a general, what do you think of that situation? He said, they’ll be just—they’ll be wiped out immediately. And I moved them out because—and I took a lot of heat. And you know what happened? Nothing. Nothing. I saved a lot of lives.”
He also pointed to Turkey’s influence in the region, calling President Erdogan “a very smart guy” and asserting, “Turkey is the one behind [the ousting of the Assad regime] it. And that’s OK. It’s another way to fight.” Emphasizing a desire to avoid further U.S. casualties, Trump concluded, “No, I don’t think that I want to have our soldiers killed.”
Looking ahead to his administration, Trump promised sweeping deregulation to spur economic growth, vowing to eliminate 10 regulations for every new one introduced. He also highlighted his past successes, claiming, “We had the greatest economy the world had ever seen during my presidency. We were doubling up on China and everybody else.”
Trump also pledged to tackle rising drug costs, targeting the "middlemen" he said are profiting unfairly. He recounted a recent meeting with pharmaceutical leaders and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., during which he emphasized the need for reform.
“We’re paying far too much because of these middlemen,” Trump said. “We’re going to knock them out, and drug costs will come down at levels no one’s ever seen.”
Trump expressed a surprising “warm spot” for TikTok, noting its role in his support among younger voters. “Republicans are always 30 points down with youth. We were 35 or 36 points up,” he said. He credited TikTok and influencers like Joe Rogan for contributing to his success with younger demographics.
Trump criticized vaccine mandates, calling them a "big mistake" that harmed children’s education. “I’m not a big mandate person,” he stated. While expressing confidence in vaccines like the polio vaccine, he said his administration would investigate the surge in autism rates, which he described as “something wrong.”
Trump closed with confidence about his upcoming term, promising “bold reforms” starting on day one to restore America’s prosperity. He also reiterated his commitment to ending global conflicts and reviving America’s role as a leader in technology and innovation.
“Starting on January 20th, we’re going to build the greatest economy the world has ever seen, just as we had before,” Trump declared.