Trump Discusses Election Results and Working With Democrats in Politico Call

Let's do it. Let's, let's try to call the president.

I think it's, I think it's time. We've been talking about him.

Sure. Let's see if he picks up. We've, we've called everyone in Jay Mart's Rolodex. Let's see what happens.

Oh yeah, but we're getting there.

Gonna ask him that Israel PM question. Yeah, actually, yes.

Might be a little busy. Let it go. There's back. More concerned- Hi, may I ask who's calling?

Hi, this is Dasha Burns with Politico. We're gonna advance some policies.

Hello? In Texas. One moment, please. The Texas State Representative James- Hey, Dasha. How are you?

Hey, Mr. President. I'm doing well. You're, you're on with, uh, with me and my colleagues here at Politico.

I'm just wondering what, what's your message?

What do you think happened with your party tonight?

I wasn't on the ballot and, uh, we didn't get the people out, but I wasn't on the ballot.

If I was on the ballot, we would've won.

We would've won it all very easily. But you know, Mr. President, you told voters that you were on the ballot to go vote as though you were on the ballot.

Yeah, I said, "Say you're on the ballot.

Think about me being on the ballot." But they didn't agree, and they didn't like the candidates in most cases.

So just one of those things. Are there certain- We had plenty of people elected, by the way, too, but, you know, not enough s- Are, are there candidates that you think didn't do enough in this, uh, election?

No, I don't wanna blame anybody. I just wanna say, you know, it was, uh, it was a very interesting period of time.

I watched with, uh, great interest, learned from it, but I wasn't on the ballot.

What, what did you learn, sir? Curious what you learned.

Well, we'll work, well, we're gonna work with the Democrats to, to make sure things go well for our country. Very important.

They've already called, and they wanna work with me.

I have the right to veto everything, but I don't wanna be just sitting there for two years vetoing everything.

We wanna see things happen, too. So I've already spoken to certain leaders of the Democrat Party, and, uh, we'll probably...

You know, I have a lot of friends in the Democrats also.

It's sort of an interesting phenomenon. Has, has, uh, has, uh, Jeffries- But we'll work- Has, uh, Hakeem Jeffries called?

Uh, well, I don't wanna say who, Dasha, but we'll work with the Democrats, and we'll make things work out well for the country.

Would you consider doing an immigration deal with Democrats?

I'd consider doing whatever I think is appropriate and good for the country.

Have you spoken to, to Chuck Schumer? I don't wanna tell you, but I've spoken to- So you're willing- A lot of Democrats called me ... so you're willing, you're willing to, to do some bipartisan work?

Over the last 20 minutes, actually. Over the last 20 minutes? I'm always, I'm always willing to do that.

Yeah, I'm always willing to. I'd be willing to do that anytime, including two years ago, I would've done that.

How much do you think, Mr. President, this changes the, the trajectory of, of the, the final two years of your administration?

Uh, I'll let you know in a year from now.

Uh, we'll... We have a powerful, uh, veto power, the ultimate, it's the ultimate power, and if I think it's not good, we're just gonna veto.

They're gonna come back and say, "How do we get it done?"

And we'll see if we can get something, something done.

Does this change your thinking about 2028 at all?

M- Marco Rubio, JD Vance, some of the other people that have been thinking- Uh, we'll have to see.

That's, uh, still a long way off. That's a long way off.

What is your message to the Republican Party now in this moment?

That all they have to do is come together.

Well, you have to just keep good policy.

A lot of people say the oil price because of Iran, but I'm very, uh...

I am totally convinced that my decision on Iran for the long-term good of our country and even the world was a absolutely correct one, and it continues to be.

Well, Mr. President, what can Americans expect in Iran?

Are you going to, to escalate now? Well, we're gonna take a look, and if we see any opportunity to do one thing or another, we'll, we're gonna do what's best for this country.

There's been speculation that y- you might be willing to, to use nuclear power over Iran.

Is that- He suggested that he went to- Is that a possibility? No. I don't need it.

We've knocked them out already 90%, so I don't need that.

What do you think... I... We spoke to Byron Donalds earlier tonight, who of course, uh, i- is, is someone you have endorsed and you have supported. Yeah. We saw.

He was a real bright spot for the Republican Party.

What, what do you think he did to, to, to be successful where others weren't?

Well, he's just a good guy and a good candidate, and he ran a good race, and I endorsed him, which was very important.

He called me an hour ago, and he just thanked me.

And we had the senator actually also elected and with my endorsement.

You know, my endorsement elected a lot of people.

Do you think, sir, that Mike Johnson should stay on as, as, uh, as, as minority leader in, in the House? Well, I think he's done a very...

I think he's done a very good job. I think he's done a very good job.

So you should, you think he should keep a leadership position?

Well, I think he's done a good job. I mean, the, they're gonna have to make that decision.

He's gonna have to make that decision, but he's a good person and a good man, and he's done a good job.

And, um, he- I'll see you. We'll do an interview.

I gotta get out of here. All right. Thanks. We'll do an interview. I'll talk to you guys. Thank you, Mr. President. Appreciate it. Bye-bye.

I gotta get out of here. All right. Thanks. We'll do an interview. I'll talk to you guys. Thank you, Mr. President. Appreciate it. Bye-bye.

Can't beat that. There you have it.