In a broad interview with Time magazine, Donald Trump deflected criticism over his misleading statements about the duration of the Iran conflict, dismissed unfavorable polling data as fraudulent, and declined to exclude the possibility of declaring a national emergency before the midterm elections.
When questioned about public confusion over his March assertion that the Iran war would last “four to five weeks,” Trump shifted blame to the media for amplifying his remarks.
At the end of March, Trump had claimed plans to conclude the Iran conflict within “two to three weeks,” only to later assert in May that a peace agreement was nearly finalized. He maintained he could have ended the war earlier but chose to extend it “because I wanted to go further.”
Americans have faced heightened economic pressures for over seven months, including gas prices exceeding $4 per gallon and persistent inflation at 3.4%, exacerbated by Trump’s military engagement in Iran.
Public dissatisfaction with the president’s economic stewardship and overall performance has grown, with only 26% of adults approving of the economy under Trump, according to an Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. Overall, just 31% approved of Trump’s job performance as president.
During his Time interview, Trump dismissed poll results showing low approval ratings, labeling them “fake numbers” and accusing pollsters of corruption.
“I would beat anybody running today by 20 points,” Trump claimed. “Your numbers… are fake. The pollsters are corrupt. They’re almost as corrupt as the writers.”
Despite his assertions, 74% of respondents in the AP/NORC survey stated the economy was performing poorly, with 65% blaming Trump’s policies for rising costs.
Economic frustrations may impact Republican candidates in the midterms, as Democratic contenders gain traction even in traditionally conservative regions like Texas.
Trump minimized election outcomes, asserting Republicans could perform well with his campaign support. Some Democratic lawmakers fear he might challenge election results if his candidates underperform, recalling his refusal to concede the 2020 election to Joe Biden.
In pre-midterm months, Trump has repeatedly questioned election integrity and signed executive orders tightening voting procedures, including restrictions on mail-in ballots and mandatory ID requirements. He previously threatened to declare a national emergency over election regulations.
Administration officials, such as FBI Director Kash Patel, have hinted at deploying federal law enforcement to polling places—a practice prohibited by law.
When asked about emergency declarations before the midterms, Trump told Time: “I don’t rule anything out or in. We’ll see.”
He also mentioned the unused Insurrection Act, a 19th-century statute authorizing domestic military deployment under specific conditions, stating, “I could use it.”
“A lot of people think I should use it sometimes,” Trump added.
Trump also affirmed no regrets over appointing Supreme Court justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, despite their frequent rulings against his policy initiatives, including challenges to his trade tariffs and efforts to revoke birthright citizenship.
