Donald Trump appeared momentarily caught off guard during an interview after a reporter fired back at his claim that many people view him as “one of the greatest Presidents ever.”
The Commander-in-Chief made the remark in a conversation with Punchbowl News, where he was pressed on how he would handle the possibility of Democrats controlling Congress in 2027.
Reporter Jake Sherman asked: “If Democrats do take over the House, it’s just going to be investigation mania. They’re going to do oversight. They could impeach you again. Do you think they will?”
Trump answered by pivoting to his own standing, saying: “Well, a lot of people are saying I’m one of the greatest presidents ever.”
Sherman laughed as he pushed back, replying: “They’re not saying that though,” in reference to Democrats.
“Yeah, but they know. They see the results,” Trump said, before moving into a rundown of what he described as his achievements.
He pointed to “more money being invested in the United States than at any time in history,” along with factory construction, artificial intelligence investment, and companies leaving countries such as Mexico, Canada, Germany and Japan to come to the US.
Still, Trump appeared less certain about whether the coalition that delivered him an Electoral College landslide would show up for Republicans in November without him personally on the ballot.
Donald Trump appeared a bit taken aback when an interviewer contradicted him on his belief that he’s considered ‘one of the greatest Presidents ever’
The Commander-in-Chief spoke to Punchbowl News earlier this week and was asked about how he might deal with a Democrat-controlled Congress in 2027. Pictured: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (pictured right) and Democrat Senator Patty Murray (pictured left)
‘If I don’t run, will those people go out and vote, and that’s the one thing I can’t tell,’ Trump told Punchbowl News in an interview released Friday.
Then the President revealed his greatest open question about the coming elections and conservative voters: ‘Will they vote?’
‘A lot of them are very angry at Republicans, to be honest with you … they are not angry with me, but they are angry with Republicans.’
Republicans’ odds of keeping control of both chambers of Congress are glum, at least according to prediction markets.
As it stands, Republicans have less than a 20 percent chance of maintaining control of the House, per Kalshi data. In the Senate, Republicans’ odds of staying in power are much more favorable at 54 percent.
But the President has a trick up his sleeve to help Republicans – he has a massive political war chest that he can deploy to help his party members campaign against their Democratic opponents.
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‘I could spend it on pretty much anything I want,’ Trump noted in the interview, adding, ‘I’m going to help Republicans.’
The President’s political action committee, MAGA Inc., has $400 million in cash on hand, according to the latest Federal Election Commission filings in late June.
Trump has noted repeatedly his close relationship with House Speaker Mike Johnson, who he has called a ‘fantastic person’ but has wondered if Republicans will show up in the midterm elections
Trump said that voters are angry with Republicans, but ‘they are not angry with me’
The fate of Trump’s remaining two years in power hinges largely on whether conservatives maintain control of Congress.
Should he lose just one chamber, either the House or the Senate, any legislation the President wants passed would need at least some Democratic support.
The thing is, Democrats have been outspoken for years about their ardent opposition to the President and his agenda, and it is hard to see them finding common ground to push through bipartisan legislation.
During the interview with the Congress-focused outlet, the President also spoke about his relationships with Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader John Thune, or lack thereof.
Johnson, Trump said, is a ‘fantastic person.’ The two have worked closely together on the President’s legislation in the House, and the Speaker has largely been able to deliver votes on must-pass bills for the President.
The same cannot be said of the Senate.
When pressed on whether he would back Thune to lead the Senate Republicans again next year, the President did not offer the leader, whom he has clashed with at times, his support.
‘I don’t want to get into that,’ Trump answered.
Though Trump did note that there was no ‘disconnect’ between him and Thune, adding, ‘I think we have a good relationship.’
Trump has repeatedly requested that the Senate pass voter ID laws, which were already approved by the House. He sees the legislation as imperative for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections given his claims that elections have been ‘rigged.’
Thune has worked to get his Republican conference on board, but the legislation has stalled out, and the Senate Republican Leader has repeatedly told the President he does not have the votes to get it passed.
