President Trump Gaggles with Press on Air Force One En Route Waterford Township, MI, Jul. 27, 2026

[0:05] Yes, on the Iran War, have you been frustrated with Secretary Hegsatz because of the advice [0:12] he gave you early on in the war and how it's turned out? [0:15] No, I think he's done a great job. [0:17] We've pretty much destroyed their military. [0:21] They want to meet, and we're meeting. [0:23] We'll see what happens. [0:24] There's a chance we can make a deal. [0:26] Without what we did, they wouldn't even be talking to us. [0:29] They requested a meeting through their surrogates and directly. [0:33] And we're meeting, and, you know, good things can happen. [0:36] I guess oil dropped very big today. [0:39] Stock markets, as of about an hour ago, was, like, through the roof. [0:44] But, no, they requested a meeting. [0:47] They would not have requested the meeting if we were doing poorly. [0:51] The only reason they want to meet is because we've been hitting them very hard. [0:55] Yeah. [0:56] How much patience do you have left with the concert? [0:58] I have plenty of time. Plenty of time. [1:02] Their whole shoreline is wiped out. [1:05] The straight is in very good shape. [1:08] And we're talking right now. [1:09] You know, they wanted to talk. [1:11] And then people said, please don't drop, don't shoot last night, the night before, the two nights. [1:16] Don't do it. [1:17] You know, we're having good talks. [1:19] So we'll see what happens. [1:20] I think there's a good chance that something could happen. [1:23] And if it does good, if it doesn't, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago. [1:27] What has communication been like with the Houthis and the Red Sea? [1:32] The Houthis. [1:33] Are you concerned about the disruptions? [1:34] Well, we're dealing with Saudi Arabia. [1:35] And it's a problem that we had a while ago and we knocked the hell out of them, as you know. [1:42] And we didn't have any problems with the Houthis after that. [1:46] But we're not involved with that. [1:48] But we may, you know, if they're a problem, we'll probably have to get it. [1:51] On Saudi Arabia, have you gotten any indications from Saudi Arabia when it comes to the Abraham Accords that they will sign on? [1:59] We haven't talked about that. [2:00] You put on your terms also. [2:01] The Pressure is very concerned about the clean and stockpiles if there is a broadening conflict in Iran. [2:06] No, we have plenty. [2:07] We have a lot of ammunition. [2:09] Different types. [2:10] You know, Biden gave a lot to Ukraine. [2:12] And so we're building that up. [2:14] But we have a lot. [2:15] We have a lot of the mid-level stuff, too. [2:18] I mean, more than we could ever use, no matter what. [2:21] But we have a lot. [2:22] I'd like to have more, to be honest. [2:25] But so much was given to Ukraine by Biden. [2:28] When I left, the cupboards were full. [2:31] When I came here with Obama, he didn't buy ammunition. [2:35] We had very little. [2:36] And I got it built. [2:38] Now, as soon as I left, they gave a lot of it to Ukraine. [2:43] I mean numbers that nobody's ever seen before. [2:47] So we're building it very rapidly. [2:51] Plants are being built. [2:53] A lot of equipment is being built. [2:55] The Patriots, in particular, are being built. [2:57] That system is going up. [3:00] We have a lot. [3:01] Every one of our contractors is building four to five plans right now. [3:06] And we're in very good shape. [3:08] But for some of the more sophisticated stuff, we'd certainly like to have more. [3:13] Biden gave a lot of it away. [3:15] Mr. President, you went at a Truth Social this morning about leader John Thune. [3:20] What's your relationship like with the Senate majority leader? [3:22] It's fine. It's fine. [3:23] He's got to get his job done. [3:25] It's fine. [3:26] I have a good relationship with John Thune. [3:28] He's just got to get his job done. [3:30] You've got to get the Save America Act passed. [3:33] Or better than that would be the filibuster. [3:35] If you terminate the filibuster, everything happens. [3:38] It's tricky. [3:39] If you don't terminate the filibuster, only bad things will happen. [3:42] If you don't terminate the filibuster, only bad things will happen. [3:46] But you don't want to see him replaced as leader? [3:48] I haven't even thought of it. [3:50] Mr. Netanyahu. [3:51] I have a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu tomorrow. [3:52] Why did you ask for that meeting? [3:53] And are you guys on the same page on Iran? [3:57] Are you on the same page on Iran, you and Prime Minister Netanyahu? [4:02] Mr. We're pretty close, yeah. [4:03] Pretty close. [4:04] We have a little difference, but we're pretty close, yeah. [4:06] Well, Iran took a meeting over the last 14 days. [4:09] And they asked us very nicely, please stop. [4:14] Let's meet. [4:16] And that's where we are right now. [4:17] We'll see what happens. [4:18] If we don't make a deal, we go back to the same thing. [4:21] President Zelensky says that Russia is giving Iran satellite imagery of U.S. bases in the Gulf to help them target. [4:31] What can you do about that? [4:32] Well, we'll find out of that soon. [4:33] I'll ask Putin about it. [4:35] We'll find out. [4:36] Mr. President, it hasn't had much impact because we've knocked the hell out of it, would you think? [4:41] If that's the case, look, you know, they gave Venezuela a lot of equipment. [4:46] Venezuela had all Russian equipment. [4:48] How did that work out? [4:49] Not too good. [4:50] So they may be giving, but if they are, it hasn't worked out because they have no army. [4:56] They have no airports. [4:58] They have no Navy. [4:59] They have no nothing. [5:00] So it hasn't worked out well. [5:02] I don't think, I don't think they've been doing it. [5:04] Certainly not at a high level. [5:06] And if they have, it has been very unimpactful. [5:09] There's some reports that the United States has taken in $13 billion from Venezuela. [5:14] Where is that money going? [5:15] What do you mean from Venezuela? [5:16] I think even more than that. [5:17] No, Venezuela. [5:18] We paid for that war many times over. [5:19] And that will happen with Iran also. [5:20] We paid for the war many times over. [5:21] But where is that money going? [5:22] Which, by the way, no other President can say that for a long time. [5:23] Okay? [5:24] When was the last President that could say that? [5:25] So we had a cost of Venezuela we paid for it many, many times over. [5:36] And now, as you know, we have a very good relationship with Venezuela. [5:41] Which, by the way, no other President can say that. [5:43] Okay? [5:44] When was the last President that could say that? [5:45] So we had a cost of Venezuela. [5:46] But we paid for it many, many times over. [5:52] And now, as you know, we have a very good relationship with Venezuela. [5:57] We're running the country it can go to the military Congress has to approve it Congress doesn't like approving money for the military [6:06] They like giving it to things that shouldn't be done [6:09] But we're taking in a lot of money billions and billions of dollars from Venezuela. That'll happen with Iran [6:19] You said that Iranian assets will be used to pay for damages to ships that are [6:24] In the strait of companies but the u.s. K shipping companies direct [6:28] No, no, we're going to use Iran's money to pay for the damage [6:32] In other words, the Iran money that we control will be used to pay for damages [6:37] Sound good not bad, right? [6:42] Any other questions? [6:44] The FOMC is meeting this week on Wednesday. We're going to Michigan [6:48] The car companies are doing better than they've ever done [6:51] Many many plants are being built all over the United States. They'll be opening them over the next year. Toyota just [6:58] Agreed to come in move its entire operation out of Mexico and into the United States [7:03] They'll be opening I guess the largest plant in the world somebody said but [7:08] Because all because the tariffs and because of me all because of Trump so [7:15] It's been pretty amazing. The Federal Reserve is meeting this week [7:19] They've not hit the inflation target set. They've not hit the two percent. I think there are some bets [7:24] We had a very good inflation report the other day [7:26] Are you worried that they might [7:28] The costs are going down rapidly. Don't forget I inherited these. I haven't been here very long [7:33] I inherited the worst inflation in history from Biden, but costs are going down rapidly [7:39] And as soon as the war is over, you're going to have you're going to see a big drop [7:42] Are you worried that the feds going to hike rates to counter inflation and Kevin's fantastic, but he's got a board and the board members are [7:52] Very political [7:55] We fight our way through the race because we're doing so well [7:58] But no, he's got a board [8:01] He wants to do the right thing. I know what he wants to do [8:05] You need the consent of some people that have perhaps bad intentions rates should be lowered [8:12] This country could be an eight percent nine percent ten percent twelve percent [8:17] gdp. That's what it should be [8:20] We have other countries that are paying less interest rates and if it wasn't for us they wouldn't even exist [8:25] It's ridiculous and they call them elite. We have other countries [8:30] I don't want to really mention names of countries, but I could give you plenty [8:34] That they take money out of the u.s. And because of that they make and they get a lower interest rate than we do [8:40] And it shouldn't be that way we should have the lowest interest rate in the world [8:45] I could take the money that these countries are making put it into our portfolio [8:49] And we would be we should have the lowest interest rate in the world like it used to be 30 years ago [8:55] We always made the lowest rate [8:58] If you take a look at like in switzerland where we have a 30 billion dollar deficit [9:05] I could wipe out that deficit overnight overnight [9:08] That would be money that would actually indirectly come to us so [9:14] A lot of interesting things going but our country is the strongest we've ever been [9:20] It's the hottest country anywhere in the world [9:22] And frankly would be very nice to a lot of countries that would not survive without us [9:27] And you know who wouldn't survive without us israel bb is coming he'll tell you if I didn't get involved and if I didn't blow up [9:34] Those nuclear essentially soon-to-be nuclear weapons the dust as I call it [9:42] Israel would have been terminated months ago and years ago if I didn't terminate the obama horrible agreement [9:51] Prime minister nyan yahu does disagree with you on the f-35s to turkey are you going to tell me what prime minister nyan yahu [9:57] Opposes sending f-35s to turkey [9:59] Are you going to [10:01] Turkey's been a great ally for me, you know, I think he's he's done a very good job did a good job with syria [10:08] He's a friend of mine and [10:10] Nobody tells me what we should be selling and not turkey has been a tremendous ally for me [10:17] It's up to turkey turkey [10:19] Turkey's not a big fan of israel, you know that right and not a big fan of bb [10:25] But he is [10:26] They've been great for me turkey has been great very powerful country by the way [10:31] Tremendous military very big military very powerful motor has a lot of great equipment [10:37] Wanting to strike a deal on Iran or does he want you to keep attacking? [10:42] Baby has been great. I'm not going to say it. He was a wartime prime minister. We did very well together [10:50] And if you look at Iran now, they're they're eight percent of what they were four months ago [10:56] They're eight percent of what they were four months ago. So we'll see how this all comes out [11:02] On the senate on the save act. Why do you want the u.s. Senate to stay in town? Shouldn't they be out across the country? [11:08] Why you want a stupid question should they be out and be campaigning though? [11:11] What a stupid question for jennifer and assets is stupid. She's a smart person [11:15] I knew her all the way back in the iowa days when she said trump's gonna win and boy was she right so listen [11:21] Why do I want the save act has to be done they shouldn't leave town i'm not going to stop them from doing it [11:28] But they should get the save act done if they don't get it done [11:32] It's going to be a very bad thing for the party and frankly [11:35] You know if you look at it the save act is going to be voted against by all democrats just so we know [11:40] We have some republicans that I will not comment on [11:45] a few of them probably four [11:48] That we probably won't get the vote i'd like to comment on them but i have too much sense to do it the [11:55] the democrats are going to vote 100 percent against voter identification and proof of citizenship 100 [12:02] they want your taxes to go up [12:05] they want men playing in women's sports they want open border for the world's criminals to pour into our country [12:10] And yet despite all of that we have the lowest crime rate in the history of our country since 1900 [12:17] With murders with all of that with all of the 25 million people many of them criminals that the democrats let in well [12:25] They just announced this morning they want an open border policy where the world's criminals can pour into our country [12:33] I think they're crazy there's something wrong with them any other question [12:37] On china treasury secretary scott beset said last week the administration is going to look into whether [12:44] Chinese ai models are distilling from u.s models do you think china is stealing american ip [12:51] well you know they're looking at us and we're looking at them but we're leading now china [12:56] substantially in ai and we're going to keep it that way we're leading everybody and everything we have [13:01] a country that's doing well thank you very much everybody see you in michigan