Trump: We Have Gone Out of Our Way to Make Sure Workers on my Hotel Is Legal

[rush transcript]

COOPER: “This isn't the first time, though, this has been an issue. ‘Daily Beast’ today, there is an article. I don't know if you have seen it. The headline says and they're talking about the building we are sitting in right now. They're saying ‘Trump tower was built on undocumented immigrant backs’.” 
TRUMP: “How many years ago was that?” 
COOPER: “This was '75 – 35 years ago.” 
TRUMP: “They said 35 years ago.” 
COOPER: “But this was a court case, 200 illegal immigrants. Polish workers, guys worked for $5.” 
TRUMP: “Anderson, I hire a contractor. The contractor then hires the subcontractor. They have people. I don't know, I don't remember that was so many years ago, 35 years ago they said we had.” 
COOPER: “Court case settled in 1999. You settled with them.” 
TRUMP: “That's all right. I mean, that's fine. I remember the case, frankly. I remember it very well. We hired contractors. The contractor, very highly prestigious, very good contractor, they go out hire subcontractors. Sometimes the subcontractors will have people working but you know it's pretty far down the line.” 
COOPER: “But this was 200 polish workers working without hard hats. It is pretty noticeable on a union job.” 
COOPER: “Anderson, when you have to go back 35 years to tell me about something, I think that's pretty pathetic to be honest with you.” 
COOPER: Do you think -- can you guarantee that you don't have illegal or undocumented workers working for you in hotel projects or various projects? 
TRUMP: “I can't guarantee it. How can anyone? We have 34 million in the country. I used to hear 11, now we are 34 million. I can't guarantee anything. But I can say this, we work very hard to make sure everybody is legal as opposed to illegal.”