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Feb. 17, 2026 05:53-06:12 - CSPAN
18:45
1&D - POTUS Speaks on AF1

President Trump aboard Air Force One touts $2/gallon gasoline and 125-year-low murder rates, blaming Democratic policies like open borders and opposing voter ID while deflecting Epstein ties onto the Clintons. He praises JD Vance and Marco Rubio, dismisses AOC and Newsom’s Munich performance, and credits the B-2 bomber for Middle East stability by halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions. On DHS funding, he accuses Democrats of weaponizing shutdowns over crime and election policies, while criticizing Polis’ solitary confinement of a voter fraud suspect and Moore’s infrastructure failures—ultimately framing his legacy as one of fiscal and security discipline against perceived partisan obstruction. [Automatically generated summary]

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donald j trump
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Speaker Time Text
Negotiations and Voter ID Deals 00:14:31
unidentified
Mission as the nation celebrates 250 years since its founding.
And later, syndicated columnist Cal Thomas will talk about political news of the day.
C-SPAN's Washington Journal.
Join the conversation live at 7 Eastern this morning on C-SPAN, C-SPAN Now, our free mobile app, or online at C-SPAN.org.
This morning, young adults will share their thoughts on the future of the country and look toward America's 250th birthday.
This conversation is hosted by the National Constitution Center live at 10 a.m. Eastern on C-SPAN 2, C-SPAN Now, our free video app, and on C-SPAN.org.
President Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews.
donald j trump
So, great financial numbers you saw.
Low inflation, very low inflation.
Prices are down, way down.
Gasoline is less than $2 in many places a gallon, which nobody expected to see, but I did.
We're going by the initial expression of drill, baby, drill.
And prices are coming down very strongly.
And as goes gasoline and oil and gas, so goes the rest of other products that were high because of Biden.
So we inherited a mess, and we've brought our country back very, very powerfully.
The crime numbers are way down, despite the fact that they let in 25 million people, many of whom should not have been allowed into our country with their open border policy.
But the country is doing very well.
Any questions?
What are you expecting from these Iran talks in Geneva tomorrow?
So I'll be involved in those talks indirectly, and they'll be very important.
We'll see what can happen.
It's been typically rents are very tough negotiators.
They're good negotiators or bad negotiators.
I would say they're bad negotiators because we could have had a deal instead of sending the V2s in to knock out their nuclear potential.
And we had to send the V2s.
I hope they're going to be more reasonable.
They want to make a deal.
Have we been told that a deal is next to impossible?
No, I think they want to make a deal.
I don't think they want the consequences of not making a deal.
They want to make a deal.
Are you going to sit down with Democrats this week on DHS funding?
I will, but you know, we have to protect our law enforcement.
They've done a great job.
I just got finished saying that we have the best crime numbers we've had in many years, and one murders 125 years.
And that's despite a lot of people that shouldn't have been let into our country coming into our country.
unidentified
Criminals.
donald j trump
Many, many criminals.
But we've taken out tens of thousands of people, brought them back to their countries.
Many of the criminals that were brought in, allowed to come in, have been removed.
So they're okay.
But to have the best crime numbers, which aren't made by me, these are made by people that do that.
Many left-leaning.
We have the best murder numbers.
Horrible thing to say, but we have the best murder numbers since 1900.
That's before my father was born.
125 years, think of it.
The best crime numbers since 1900, having to do with murder, and really good crime numbers, the best in years.
Are there any demands that Democrats are making that you're okay with often?
Well, I don't like some of the things they're asking for.
We're going to protect law enforcement.
We're going to protect ICE.
They're part of the whole system that is working.
And Washington, D.C. now is considered a very safe city.
When I took over, it was a city that we're losing two, three people a week.
Over 100 people a year were being murdered in Washington.
Now it's considered a very safe city.
And we did that.
I did it over a fairly short period of time.
unidentified
I DHS.
Recent news reports have discussed the widespread belief that Christine Ohm and Corinne's Wandowski are in a person-to-person relationship.
Is that a bad look?
Recent news reports have discussed the possibility that Christine Ohm and Corinthians are in a close personal relationship.
Is that about Logan?
Do you think she'll be in the job much longer?
donald j trump
I don't know about that, and I haven't heard that.
I'll find out about it, but I have not heard that.
unidentified
Do you see the same thing in the ULSC?
Well, you heard your State of the Union speech if we're still in a shutdown next week.
donald j trump
Well, I could tell you wouldn't bother me.
I would give it a go.
unidentified
How are the negotiations going?
donald j trump
Which one?
We have a lot of negotiations.
unidentified
The government shuts down.
donald j trump
This is a Democrat shutdown.
This has nothing to do with the Republicans.
This is a Democrat shutdown.
They're upset that the crime numbers are so good.
They're very unhappy that the crime numbers are so good.
They're very unhappy that there's a movement for getting voter ID.
They want voter ID.
The population, 98%, want voter ID.
They don't want voter ID because they want to cheat in elections.
They also want other things.
They don't want mail-in balance.
They want to end mail-in balance, which is corrupt.
And one other thing that they're insisting on is proof of citizenship.
And the Democrats don't want to give proof of citizenship.
They don't want to give voter ID.
unidentified
Think of it.
donald j trump
Who wouldn't want proof of citizenship?
I ask you, Steve.
Who wouldn't want voter ID?
And why would you want mail-in balance if you know it's corrupt?
It's a corrupt system.
We're the only country in the world that has this system of mail-in balance.
Think of it.
The only country in the world that has this system of mail-in balance.
Because they cheat.
And the fact is, they could never get elected if they ever changed.
They know it.
If you had voter ID, if you had proof of citizenship, they could never win an election.
And they know that.
And they're fighting to the hill.
And I put this down with men playing in women's sports.
I put it down with transgender for everybody.
I put it down with their horrible open border policy as being ridiculous.
They don't want voter ID.
No voter ID.
And I put that down to the same category with men playing in women's sports.
I'm going to add a fourth category.
They don't want voter ID.
Go ahead.
unidentified
So Hillary Flint said in an interview today that she and her husband are getting pulled into the Epstein matter to divert attention from you and that your administration has something to hide.
What's your responsibility?
donald j trump
I have nothing to hide.
I've been exonerated.
I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein.
They went in hoping that they'd find it and found just the opposite.
I've been totally exonerated.
In fact, Jeffrey Epstein was fighting that I don't get elected with some author that's lease bag, by the way.
And I've been totally exonerated.
No, no, they're getting pulled in, and that's their problem.
unidentified
I don't know.
donald j trump
They're going to have to see what happens.
But I watched her in Munich, and she seriously has drunk derangements in her.
unidentified
She should publicly tell her.
donald j trump
Yeah, I've been totally exonerated on Epstein.
And it's really interesting because they've been pulled in.
unidentified
Think of it.
donald j trump
They've been pulled in.
Clinton and many other Democrats have been pulled in.
Yeah.
unidentified
The U.S. has drowned for just printing from the Caribbean to the Middle East.
It's about to hit its eight-month deployment mark.
Usually they're deploying for about six months or so.
Is there any concern that U.S. carriers are being stretched today?
donald j trump
I'll answer the question.
Mr. President, you're warning Cuba to make a deal.
unidentified
What does that deal look like?
donald j trump
What do you want them to do?
Cuba is right now a failed nation and they don't even have jet fuel to get for airplanes to take off.
They're clogging up their runway.
We're talking to Cuba right now and Marco Rubio talking to Cuba right now and they should absolutely make a deal because it's a humanity, it's really a humanitarian threat.
And we have a lot of great Cuban Americans and they're going to be very happy when they're going to be able to go back and say hello to their relatives and do things that they should have been allowed to do for a long time.
I'm very interested in the people that are here that were treated so badly by Castro and the Cuban authorities.
They have been treated horribly.
So we'll see how it all turns out.
But Cuba and us, we are talking.
In the meantime, there's an embargo.
There's no oil.
There's no money.
There's no anything.
unidentified
If a deal isn't made, would you consider an operation like the one in Venezuela?
donald j trump
I don't want to answer that.
Why would I answer that if I was?
It wouldn't be a very tough operation, as you can figure.
But I don't think that'll be necessary.
unidentified
Mr. President, Marco Rubio received really positive reviews in Munich.
Exactly.
donald j trump
Very good review.
unidentified
Is there a scenario in which you would support him at the top of the ticket in 2018?
donald j trump
Something I don't have to worry about now.
I've got three years to go.
So it's something I don't have to worry.
JD's fantastic, and Marcus, they're both fantastic.
I think, really.
And I think Marco did a great job in Munich.
unidentified
President Xi, President Xi, in your talk with him recently, warned about sending more weapons to Taiwan.
What was your response there?
donald j trump
Are you going to send more weapons to Taiwan?
I have a response.
I'm talking to him about it.
We've had a good conversation.
And we'll make a determination pretty soon.
How much about your trip?
We have a very good relationship with resident Xi.
In fact, I'll be going, I guess, in Aqua.
unidentified
Tell us about your trip to Baltimore on Thursday, your trip to Marjorie Trader Green's office.
donald j trump
Well, we have a lot of people that want to take Marjorie Trader Green's place.
And many, many candidates, and I have to choose one.
And they say whoever I endorse is going to win.
But we have a lot of good candidates who want to take her place.
unidentified
But your Board of Peace meets for the first time this week.
Is it going to be the most consequential international organization ever?
That's a high bar.
What do you want for this first meeting?
donald j trump
Well, I think it can.
We're going to have more world leaders.
They're putting up tremendous amounts of money.
And I think it's going to go far beyond gossip.
I think it'll be peace all over the world.
And we're working in conjunction with the United Nations.
And the United Nations is there.
They haven't lived up to potential.
The United Nations has great potential.
They haven't lived up to the potential.
But I think they might aid us a little bit.
But we have the greatest leaders in the world joining the Board of Peace.
And we'll be doing it in conjunction with, in some cases, the United Nations and see if we can get the United Nations to get us involved.
unidentified
You've been a kingmaker in a lot of Republican primaries.
A lot of people are.
donald j trump
Including foreign nations.
I was very honored to see that a very wonderful prime minister in Japan won by a landslide.
I think she was going to win, but she won by just about the biggest vote ever in Japan.
And she attributed my endorsement for that.
And that's very good because we have a great relationship with her and Japan.
unidentified
A lot of Republicans in D.C. are asking you to endorse John Morgan, but you haven't yet.
Is there a chance you would endorse Paxon, and why haven't you endorsed Morgan?
donald j trump
I just haven't made a decision on that race yet.
It's got a ways to go, and I haven't.
He's a good man.
John is a good.
I like all three of them, actually.
unidentified
I like all three.
donald j trump
Those are the toughest races.
They've all supported me.
They're all good.
And you're supposed to pick one.
So we'll see what happens.
But I support all three.
unidentified
Are you going to get involved in the rift between UAE and Saudi Arabia?
donald j trump
No, I'm not.
I wouldn't be.
I wouldn't be.
Well, I can settle it very easily.
But they do indeed have a rift.
And we can get it settled very easily.
I settle wars.
I settle a lot of rifts between countries.
You've been noticing, right?
That's an easy one to settle.
unidentified
In Venezuela, this unlike Said that Nicolas Maludo is still a legitimate president and is innocent.
I know you said the relationship is a 10, but I'm curious what's your idea.
donald j trump
I think we have a great relationship.
I think she probably has to say that.
I think politically maybe she has to say that.
But the relationship with Management Well, and she's doing a very good job.
And I fully understand that statement.
unidentified
In Gaza.
We're going to have Ukraine talk tomorrow as well in Geneva with law from Jerusalem.
donald j trump
What do you expect the mayor?
Is there, well, there are big talks.
It's going to be very easy.
I mean, it's, look, so far, Ukraine better come to the table fast.
That's all I'm telling you.
We are in a position.
We want them to come.
And by the way, I watched AOC answering questions in Munich.
This was not a good look for the United States.
I watched Gavin Newscomb answering questions for Munich.
And this was a bad look for our country.
This was a bad.
These two people are incompetent.
And at least Hillary's competent.
She's just Trump deranged.
She was so deranged.
She is an angry woman.
But I watched the other two speaking and answering basic questions.
Look, Gavin has destroyed California.
And the AOC, I never really got her to, I never heard her speak very much.
And they started answering questions.
She had no idea what was happening.
She had no idea how to answer, you know, very important questions concerning the world.
But she can't answer questions concerning New York City either.
Because New York City had some problems.
unidentified
Now that Gaza is entering phase two, should Israel lift its ban on foreign journalists being allowed into Gaza?
donald j trump
We'll be lifting a lot of bans pretty soon.
I think you're going to see everything opening up.
Gaza, look, we have peace in the Middle East.
Now, you have some claims here and there, but we essentially have peace in the Middle East.
And that happened primarily when we did the B-2 attack on the nuclear potential, nuclear power.
They would have had a nuclear weapon within one month.
If that happened, it would have been a whole different deal.
Okay, thank you very much, everybody.
unidentified
So the $5 million that you announced yesterday for the Board of Peace, is that a valid payment or small?
donald j trump
We want to help people.
That's beautiful compared to the kind of money that has been spent in the Middle East by Bush, by Obama, by all of these people, by Biden.
I mean, the money he spent.
But the money he spent, you know, that's such a small amount of money by comparison.
But we want to make it successful.
I think it has the chance to be the most consequential board ever assembled of any kind.
unidentified
Always both of La Census.
The White House Connection 00:02:17
donald j trump
Great.
We had a great time in Ron and a couple of other people.
Two great coaches, as you know.
The two greatest coaches, I would say, certainly in college football.
And we had a good time playing golf.
unidentified
Thank you.
donald j trump
I didn't get to play today because I'm working on other things.
Very important things.
Much more important than golf.
Thank you very much.
She's on the plane.
She's a Milani's on the plane.
We have a movie star on the plane.
Do you have any Valentine's Day plans with her?
unidentified
Can you do anything for Valentine's Mother?
Can you give her flowers?
donald j trump
I better not tell you that.
By everybody.
That's the toughest question.
No, she's very, I'm proud of the fact, you know, our movie's so successful.
It's a tremendous hit.
And she does a good job.
She does some very consequential work.
I think you're going to see in the end that she's going to go down as one of the truly great first ladies.
When you see what she's doing with Russia, Ukraine, and so many of the other things she's doing, she's done a good job.
She works very hard.
unidentified
Is Leslie might get to the White House this week, Mr. President?
donald j trump
Just so you understand, the governors were all other than two.
One was from Colorado, where he's got a 73-year-old woman who's probably got serious cancer, confined and for some time in solitary confinement because she pointed out the voter theft that was taking place.
In other words, she pointed it out.
They arrested her and they gave her a nine-year sentence.
And he better let her go because it's a disgrace.
And the other guy's just a bad governor.
He's not doing a good job.
Wes Moore is doing a terrible job.
And you can see that.
Well, I didn't invite those two.
If the rest of them don't want to show up, that's okay.
I hear they're covering a lot of them.
The White House is a great place to be.
But no, I don't like the job that Wes Moore's doing.
I don't like the job he's doing at the bridge.
I don't like the fact that he did that horrible with the pipes in the Potomac.
And it's not doing the job.
They got to do it.
And I'm going to have to get the federal government involved in getting it fixed because he can't fix anything.
Thank you very much.
unidentified
Thank you, Mr. President.
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This morning, young adults will share their thoughts on the future of the country and look toward America's 250th birthday.
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