On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump defended his policies during a televised phone interview with voters on the morning of the midterm elections, asserting that his actions on immigration, Iran, and tariffs had contributed to "rebuilding" the country.
As American voters headed to the polls in elections that could see Republicans lose control of Congress, Trump told the "Fox & Friends" program: "We need to keep America great. We are great now. We were terrible two years ago."
With polls predicting Democratic gains in the House and a possible victory in the Senate, while Trump's popularity has declined significantly, he directed his message toward his right-wing base.
"We were a laughingstock all over the world. The leaders of other countries didn't even take us seriously. They thought we were fools, but now we are at the forefront. We are the most important country in the world, and everyone respects us," he said.
"We will maintain this position and make it even better," he added.
During his second term, Trump launched a campaign against illegal immigration, reduced the number of migrants entering the country illegally, and waged a war with Iran that led to higher fuel prices for Americans.
Reiterating claims often considered baseless or exaggerated, Trump said: "When I took office, the borders were open. Millions and millions of people were pouring in, many of them criminals and murderers."
He added: "They (the migrants) were released from prisons in Congo in Africa, from various parts of South America, and from Asia. They were pouring into our country. It was simply a horrific scene, and they were extremely dangerous."
"The inflation problem has been solved, and the Strait of Hormuz is under our full control thanks to the naval blockade (imposed on Iran). I mean, everything is going great," he said.
He continued: "Automobile companies are flocking to us because they don't want to pay tariffs."
