Press Gaggle: Donald Trump Speaks to Reporters Before Marine One Departure - October 13, 2026

Mr. President, after you set up your [Inaudible] yourself, you are the best [Inaudible] ever but there is no ceasefire on Ukraine. Putin isn't listening to you. What do you think?

They'll listen.

Mr. President, on Kimberly Guilfoyle, she was almost a member of your family. How surprised were you to learn about these allegations? What did you make of them?

No, she wasn't a member of my family. She, I guess, dated my son a long time ago, but she wasn't. No, she went to Greece, she was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we were reading. So --

What did you think of those allegations?

[Crosstalk]

Mr. President? Excuse me, Mr. President, did you speak with Kimberly Guilfoyle personally? And what did she say to you?

I didn't speak to her, no, but she will not be there. I didn't like what I read.

Mr. President, did you stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine?

[Crosstalk]

Not sharing intel with Ukraine?

Go ahead.

Have we stopped sharing intel with Ukraine?

No, we haven't. We helped them. But we're really helping them get to a final answer. We want the war ended, Peter. We are helping them and we are sharing intel; we want the war to end. So, we're working with them and with Russia on getting the war to end.

And what gives you such confidence that Putin wants the war to end more than Zelenskyy?

Only in dealing; that's what I've done my whole life is deals. I think Putin wants it, probably -- I think they both want it to end. You know, honestly, they both want it to end, and they don't know how to get to that point. There's a lot of hatred there between the two of them. They both want it to end, they don't know how to get there, we're going to get them there.

And can I ask you, there are some Republicans in the Senate who are upset about this diesel deal. Has somebody told you that Russia's not just going to take this diesel money and use it to buy bombs to use against Ukraine?

Nobody's told me anything. That's a diesel deal not for us. That's being released into the world; that's not being released to us. That's a diesel deal that's going to be released into the world for the world market, because the world market suffered with high prices. And when you knock out diesel refineries, that's not a great thing.

But they're not releasing that to us they're releasing it to the entire world.

Are you worried about -- are you worried --

[Crosstalk]

Mr. President, have you decided on the live streaming of Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter? Have you decided on that? And are you concerned?

We're looking at it.

Yeah, but are you concerned at all? How did Katie do?

I thought she was very good. I thought she was very good.

What state did she pass the bar exam in? You said she's an attorney, where did she pass the bar exam? Which state? Can she tell us? Where did you pass the bar exam?

[Inaudible]

[Crosstalk]

On the ICE arrest of Oscar Delgado, the criminal illegal alien -- and then I heard you had a phone conversation with Mamdani about it. He asked you to release him. Could you tell us about that conversation?

We had a very nice conversation, we disagreed. This is a very bad actor, and we have to take care of the bad actors because we don't want our people hurt or killed.

[Crosstalk]

Have you made a decision on striking the Houthis? Mr. President, have you made a decision on the Houthis? Mr. President, are you concerned --

Who's asking that question?

Down here. Have you made a decision on striking the Houthis?

They're behaving very badly.

What are you going to do about that?

I mean, if I told you I made a decision that wouldn't be very --

Mr. President --

The Houthis have acted very badly.

Mr. President, have the Houthis broken the ceasefire? Are you asking [Inaudible] to join the response in Yemen to the [Inaudible] in Yemen?

I might do it. He's a great friend of mine, as you know, and I might do that. I have a lot of respect for the president of Turkey. President Erdogan, I think, would do as I ask. I have a lot of respect for him.

[Crosstalk]

Endorsed the Israeli elections. Why haven't you endorsed any Israeli elections?

We haven't even thought about it. Well, we may be -- I may be doing something.

You've endorsed people in Iran.

[Crosstalk]

I may be doing something. Yeah, please.

[Inaudible]

You'd have to speak up.

[Crosstalk]

Mr. President, Mr. President, are you hopeful?

Always Iran.

What will be your next step regarding Iran? Are you hopeful for peace?

Iran is a failed country. They have no economy, they have 300 percent inflation, they have no money, they're not paying their troops, they're not paying their -- they're not paying anybody. We'll make a decision on Iran very soon.

What about the [Inaudible]

We control the Hormuz Strait, and a lot of oil is coming out of the Hormuz Strait.

What about the base in Poland? What about the base in Poland?

Well, they want to build a base and we'll let -- we'll see. They're going to pay for it.

What is your message to the president? What security assurances did you offer --

On what?

Saudi Arabia. Did you speak to the Saudi crown prince?

I did, yes.

And what did you offer him?

Well, I can't tell you that. You really think I can tell you that? I'd love to tell you, but I'm not going to tell you that.

[Inaudible] Ukrainian energy facilities, is there an --

Well, we'll see. They're both -- they're both a little bit off, but we'll --

[Inaudible]

You know what? Bottom line it's going to all work out. You know why? It always does.

Three weeks until the midterm elections, harder for Republicans to keep the House or the Senate?

I would say equal. I think, you know, it's -- for some reason, when you have a sitting president, no matter how good -- nobody's done what I've done, nobody, not even close. But no matter how good they seem to be at a big disadvantage, tremendous disadvantage. But I'm doing a tour right now and I'm doing rallies.

The level of enthusiasm for the Republican Party is way up, not just where I'm doing them. For instance, Jon Husted, I heard he went up 9 points yesterday, I did the rally for him and he went up. He's going to be a great Senator. Jon Husted went up 9 points yesterday, Peter. So, I'm doing rallies; I'm right now going to Alaska to try and help Dan Sullivan.

That's a long way away. And I would only do it if I thought he was good and he's very good. And so, I'm going to Alaska to help Dan Sullivan and then I'm stopping at numerous places. But I'm doing, on average, a rally a day. Do you think that's easy? It's not.

[Crosstalk]

Ilhan Omar [Inaudible]

I don't take a position. I think she's a terrible person. I think she's a terrible Congresswoman. I don't think she loves our country at all, but I don't take a position.

Mr. President.

Mr. President, Russia hit energy sites yesterday according to the Ukrainians. What evidence do you have -- Well, Ukraine hit many sites the day before. Ukraine hit many.

In your view Russia has not broken the ceasefire?

I'll let you know about that later but they're hitting each other. But it'll all come to an end. They both -- they both want it to come to an end; they just don't know how to get there.

Mr. President, on Iran -- [Inaudible]

That's all right. It's a deal for the world; it's not a deal for us. It's a way of getting a lot of oil out to the world. It's not a deal with me; it's a deal for the world and it brought down prices by the way.

Do you think [Inaudible]

You know, the oil deal brought down prices. But that's a world deal; that's not a USA deal.

Do you think some of your policies are making it harder for Republicans to win in November? [Inaudible] Barzani announced the Turkish leader [Inaudible] He said he solved the Kurdish problem; he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. What is your take on that?

Who deserves it?

President Erdogan, he solved the Turkish issue [Inaudible]

I don't know.

Mr. President, does Russia need a new president?

Does anybody want to see a great work of art? A great thing of beauty?

Absolutely. Show us.

The helipad, right? The helipad has gotten unbelievable architectural reviews, but that's nothing compared to what's being built right there. You see those cranes? They're the most powerful cranes in the world. They're lifting up massive steel beams; there's one on each side, the red and the yellow. They're lifting up massive steel beams, which is the roof of the ballroom.

To me, it's a thing of great beauty. They've wanted it here for 150 years, and now they're getting it. The ballroom will be the greatest anywhere in the world. And it's a military complex also; but the ballroom will be the greatest anywhere in the world. And I think maybe -- I know at least Peter agrees with me.

When will the ballroom be finished, sir?

It's going to be amazing.

When will it be finished, sir?

I don't know; we're right on -- we're a little ahead of schedule, right on budget. We're in good shape. Look good, right? Look at that stone, Peter.

It's bright to look at.

It's pure.