*Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2017 *

**Remarks in an Exchange With Reporters Aboard Air Force One at Orlando Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, FL **

*February 18, 2017 *

*The President's Rally in Melbourne, Florida *

*Q.* What's your message going to be?

*The President.* My message is going to be unity, with a small exception.

*Q. *With a small exception?

*The President.* You'll see. I think you'll like it. You'll like it. We have a great crowd of people. Fantastic crowd of people. It's nice that you're with us. Thank you very much. And I'll see you afterwards.

*Q. *A lot of people are saying this is too early to be in campaign mode. What's your response to that?

*The President.* Life is a campaign. Making our country great again is a campaign. For me, it's a campaign. To make America great again is absolutely a campaign. It's not easy, especially when we're also fighting the press and the media. So I'll see you out there.

*The President's National Security Adviser Selection Process *

*Q. *How are your National Security Adviser interviews going?

*The President.* Very good. We're meeting three of four of them tomorrow. I have many, many that want the job, they want to really be a part of it. I'll make a decision over the next couple of days. But we're meeting, actually, four tomorrow. All of them very much want it.

*Q. *Are you leaning towards one?

*The President.* Probably, yes.

*Q. *Which one?

*The President.* A very similar to one, to somebody. I've been thinking about somebody for the last—I would say, for the last 3, 4 days. We'll see what happens. I'm meeting with that person tomorrow.

*Q. *Odierno?

*The President.* He's a good man.

*Q. *Would you put him at the top of the list?

*The President.* He's a very good man. They're all good. They're all great people.

NOTE: The President spoke at approximately 5:35 p.m. following a flight from West Palm Beach, FL. In his remarks, he referred to Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, USA (Ret.), former Chief of Staff of the Army. Audio was not available for verification of the content of these remarks. *Categories:* Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters :: Aboard Air Force One at Orlando Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, FL*.*

*Locations: *Melbourne, FL*. *

*Names:* Odierno, Raymond T.

*Subjects:* Communications : News media : Accuracy and fairness; Communications : News media, Presidential interviews; Florida : Orlando Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne; Florida : President visits; White House Office : Assistants to the President :: National Security Adviser.

*DCPD Number:* DCPD201700129.