Press Gaggle: Donald Trump Speaks to Reporters After Air Force One Arrival - August 11, 2026

[No video] It was a tremendous, tremendous success. Great young athletes, the future of our country.

[Video begins] And we had a great time in Ohio, a fantastic time in Ohio. The country's doing well. The stock market's, a fantastic record. And we have 79 records so far in a short period of time. More people are working right now in the United States than ever before, and prices are dropping fast. Iran is going fine, going just absolutely fine.

We totally control the Strait of Hormuz. We have control over it. Nobody else, only us. Our Navy is unbelievable. And things are going great for our country. Go ahead.

Mr. President, can you tell us about your ride on the Air Force catering truck in Turkey? Why did you need to do that?

Well, it's only, uh, up to Secret Service. I just follow what they'd like to do. So, uh, I go by Secret Service, uh, and the military. They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane. Uh, equal safety, but they wanted me to do it, so I do it. I do what they say.

Why did they want you to do that?

Sir, [Inaudible] what was the threat?

I guess there was a threat out there. I didn't really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats.

Mr. President, Darline Graham has made it to the runoff [Inaudible]

I heard, good.

-- in South Carolina. What are you gonna do to help her get over the finish line?

Well, she just called me to thank me for the endorsement, and it's great that she's doing so well. And she's a very good woman. And she's got good genetics, because she's related to Lindsey, [Laughs] who's a real professional. So, uh, we'll see. I'm gonna call her right now. She just called me two minutes ago.

Uh, she won by how many points?

No. We can't vote yet. [Inaudible]

She's, she's definitely in a runoff, yeah. And that's good. That's what you want.

Will you, will you campaign for her down in South Carolina?

Yeah. I think so, yeah.

On the Turkey --

Just so you understand, I like the other people in the race also. They're all Trump. I mean, they're all Trumpers, but, uh, you know, I endorsed her. I think she's great. It's really an honor of her brother, and, and she's really a very smart woman. You know, Lindsay loved his sister. More than anything else, he would tell me about his sister, that she's just outstanding.

She, he actually said she is better than him. That was hard for Lindsay to say. Because she's out there. She's doing a great job.

Mr. President, you mentioned 2028 several times in the last week. At the dinner, you put on a Trump 2028 hat.

Yeah.

Are you serious about seeking a third term?

Everybody asks me that question, and you know that the law's very strong on that. I'd love to run, but the law is very strong. I get asked by every, well, even tonight, they're screaming at the event, [Laughs] "2028" No, everybody wants me to do it, but the law is very strong.

[Inaudible]

Thank you very much, everybody.

Mr. President?

The, uh, Turkey flight, Air Force One still, we were out of Turkey, but perhaps it was [Inaudible] on it. How was --

Well, this one went over to England --

Yeah.

-- where it was shown to the soldiers.

-- even though --

No, I know, but this one went over to England because the soldiers wanted to see it.

Right. [Inaudible]

And it stopped. Then they showed it to the soldiers, and we did a switch over there. And it was really as per the military. And I just have to do what they say. Uh, they go for safety and I have to do what they say.

Why was it too dangerous for you to fly on Air Force One, but not [Inaudible]

I don't know. I think, actually, the plane that I flew on was at greater risk.

Why do you say that?

I think it was a greater risk. Because that would be the plane I think that we, that they would be more likely to go for.

Mr. President?

Mr. President? Were you surprised, Mr. President, that the Secret Service were telling you to take that third plane?

No, not surprised. I have a lot of threats. I have a lot of threats that you don't know about. Any consequential president has a lot of threats. Non-consequential presidents don't get threats. And I think that I'm maybe the most consequential president.

How close was Iran to pulling something off?

[Inaudible]

There's nobody's done more than me in a period of almost six years. There's nobody.

Mr. --

Were you worried about a shoulder-fired missile?

Uh, I don't worry about anything, to be honest, whatever it is. You know my attitude? Whatever.

Mr. President?

How can you trust Iran at all? They tried to kill you.

I don't trust Iran. Why? Are you saying I trust Iran? I'm the last person to trust Iran. They've lied to me constantly. We have total control over the Hormuz Strait right now. They don't have control. We have total control. We own it. And at some point, maybe they'll do something and then they get blown away.

But, uh, we, right now, we're in a very good position. We have a country that has been the bully of the Middle East for 50 years. Really, 51, if you think about it, right. We've been saying 47 for four years. And they're no longer the bully of the Middle East. Thank you very much, everybody.

Mr. President --