Interview: Claire Galt of WINK-TV Fort Myers, Florida Interviews Donald Trump - October 23, 2026

All right, Mr. President, you have been campaigning in Republican strongholds lately, you're here in Florida today. Do you fear that Republicans could lose these races?

Well, you can always fear that. I don't think that's going to happen. We have great candidates and great people, and we're doing this event. And you see outside, I don't know if you noticed, but there are thousands and thousands of people that can't get in. So, there's a great spirit, so I think we're in great shape.

I won Florida three times with the all-time records, all three were records. And I'm here to make sure that they vote for Byron and that they vote for -- we're going to have a great Senator, a continuation of a great Senator. So, between the two of them, I think you're going to do very well.

It looks like Cost of Living will be a big player this midterm. You have said that you inherited high prices from President Biden; you've been in office nearly two years now. What would you say to Americans who feel like they are still struggling just to make ends meet?

Well, the cost of living, as you probably heard, for the last three months, which is, you know, sort of now we're into my time, is 1.7 percent on a yearly basis, 1.7. So, it's down lower than what they thought it would be -- lower than even ideal. You know, 2 is sort of their number that they strive for; we're at 1.7. And you know, now we've had enough time to get it down like that, so that's what it is. And we're going to have oil dropping very rapidly very soon with the war, because the war is going to be ended very soon.

One way or the other, it'll be ended. We've hit them very hard. Somebody else should have done it long ago, another president or somebody, but I was chosen to do that job, and you had to do it. Number one state sponsor of terror, they can't have a nuclear weapon. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. So, I'm honored to have done it. But with all of that, gasoline prices are coming down.

Tremendous amounts of oil are coming through the Hormuz Strait, more than we actually had before the war, which is pretty amazing. And we have it going very well.

Yeah, we talk to people who say they go to the grocery store and beef is high; they go to the gas pump, the average in Southwest Florida today is $4.18. What would you tell them about how this war will end and when they'll see relief?

OK, I think it's fair that you say it, because beef's a little bit high and it's coming down. It has come down but I inherited that. Beef takes a little longer, you're talking about the life of cattle. So, the beef is -- and the other is oil and the oil went up. We had it very low and I knew that would happen, but it was a choice.

You know, it's a small price to pay for taking a nuclear weapon away from Iran, which is a very evil country. So, the oil will be coming down very soon and the beef is already coming down. Other prices, though, I have to say, are way down. Eggs are way down, all of almost every other price is way down. Those two are higher but they'll be coming down very soon.

How and when do you see the war ending?

I see it ending soon. I see it ending one way or another, through agreement or otherwise.

Do you think this midterm election is a referendum on you? Do you think a vote for a Republican is a vote for you?

I don't really want to think that because I'm not on the ballot. You know, when I'm on the ballot, I get 50 percent -- almost 50 percent more votes. And what I'm trying to do is get the people that vote for me to come out and vote, because if that happens, then we win every election. And that's why I'm here; I'm just here to say get out and vote because if we can get my base, MAGA Republicans, if we get them out to vote, we'll win every election in a landslide.

But when I'm not on the ballot, you know, people tend not to vote. But I've never done this before; I've never come out and campaigned like this for midterms before. Now, historically that's true; when a president is a president, Republican or Democrat, when they're out there, I mean, they can be a good president, a bad president, they seem to always lose the midterms.

And I've done something different. Presidents generally don't campaign too much, a little bit, but not much. I'm out every single day doing exactly what I'm doing with you right now.

You said you've never done this before. What's different this time?

Well, there's tremendous energy. I mean, there's always been energy, but to have this kind of energy for a midterm is very, very unusual. And I say it's Republican energy, not Democrat. I mean, I hear about Democrats, but, you know, these crowds are here for me, they're not here for Democrats. There's just great energy.

If Democrats do win control of Congress, do you think you can work with them or do you think there's too much division?

Well, I hope that doesn't happen, it would be a shame for the country. But if it does, yeah, it'll work because I'll be vetoing everything. And then they're going to call and say, how do we get something passed and we'll make a deal. So, we'll, you know, be able to do that. But I think a more positive would be if the Republicans can win and just keep it going, because our country is doing really, really well.

You know, we have more money being invested in the United States today than at any time ever in history, $22 trillion. And we have more factories and plants and all of that being built right now than at any time -- automobile plants. I mean, we're building more automobile plants now than we've ever built in the history of our country.

And ultimately, in a little while when they're open, which is soon, that's going to mean jobs.

Is there anything you would have done differently the last two years?

Well, it's always easy to say, but I had to attack Iran, or they would have had a nuclear weapon. If we didn't do a B-2 bomber attack, they would have had a nuclear weapon, and if they had a nuclear weapon, you and I might not be here right now talking. So, I had to do that, that would be probably the most controversial.

We did Venezuela; very successful, as you know. I mean, there's -- legendary actually, it was over in one day and we have we have millions and millions of barrels of oil coming into our country. The economy is the strongest -- look, the stock market is the strongest it's ever been. 88 days now is a record, and it just hit another record last week.

And we're hitting record after record and your 401(k); you probably have a 401(k). If you look at it, you'll be very happy because you're up about 60 percent in a very short period of time and everybody is. So, I mean, I have to say, wouldn't have done a lot different.

All right, they're wrapping us up. Thank you so much.

Thank you very much.

I really appreciate you taking the time. Nice to meet you.

Good luck in your future.

Thank you.

Good.