The Frontier

Trump said his appeal did not transfer to Republican candidates because voters disliked some candidates, the Iran war, higher gasoline prices, and Israel; he defended endorsing Ken Paxton and Darline Graham, while arguing John Cornyn also would have lost.

Trump agreed with JD Vance that the Iran war hurt Republicans, but defended the decision as necessary to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He said U.S. strikes hit three Iranian sites more than a year earlier and claimed he had stopped Iran from getting the weapon.

Trump said the economy had historically strong numbers and a record-high stock market, but blamed bad messaging for voters not feeling the gains. He also argued that the press failed to give Republicans’ positive economic news enough coverage.

Trump said immigration enforcement helped him with voters who wanted the border closed and dangerous people deported, but may have hurt him by removing long-term workers with otherwise good lives. He called the deportation policy potentially too tough and said he would consider legal status with Democrats; he claimed James Talarico and others were open to a deal.

Trump said he could work with a Democratic majority even if it investigated his administration, and claimed he had dealt with investigations for four years. He said he could stop insulting Democrats for six months to reach a deal, while arguing his two impeachments had benefited him politically.

Trump said he expected to make a few Cabinet changes after the midterm defeat. An hour after the interview, Susie Wiles was replaced as chief of staff by Stephen Miller, whom the report identified as the architect of Trump’s mass deportation policy, a shift at odds with his stated interest in an immigration deal.

Trump defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying Hegseth had been part of military successes. Trump claimed the United States had won two wars, including Venezuela, where he said it took less than an hour and nobody was killed.

Trump said he was not looking to escalate the Iran war and claimed Iran’s nuclear material was buried under rock. He said the Strait of Hormuz was open, with U.S. ships present, and argued countries protected by the United States should repay its war costs.

Trump said he expected the Russia-Ukraine war to end soon and blamed the hatred between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy for blocking peace. He denied lifting diesel sanctions, said he had enabled oil and diesel supplies to the world, and predicted Ukraine would have a different shape after a deal.

Trump said he might endorse a Republican successor but had not decided, naming Marco Rubio as a strong prospect among a larger field. He argued MAGA could continue without him because he defined it as strong borders, a strong military, and wealth creation.

Trump said his net worth had increased without his attention and that his sons run his businesses. He co-owns World Liberty Financial, which Ross Douthat said includes investors connected to the UAE government; Trump said he had no knowledge of its investments and defended computerized stock trading through index funds.

Trump called AI a strategic race with China and said the United States should stay ahead, while accepting some safety guardrails. Ross Douthat cited AI figures warning of a 10% chance the technology could kill humanity; Trump dismissed that risk as overstated and manageable.

Trump said Air Force pilots had described a round object passing an F-22 at three times its speed, but he had seen no evidence of a secret government UFO program. He said he would look into the allegation after the interview.

Trump said he was religious and hoped to go to heaven, but admitted he probably could not forgive some political enemies, including people he considers dishonest and harmful to the country. He said he hates some opponents and expects that feeling to remain.