Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2026
Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters Upon Arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland
August 11, 2026
The President. So the Patriot Games were tremendous, a tremendous success. Great young athletes, the future of our country. And we had a great time in Ohio, a fantastic time in Ohio.
The country is doing well. The stock market is fantastic. Record—we have 79 records, so far, in a short period of time. More people are working right now in the United States than ever before, and prices are dropping fast.
Iran is going fine—going just absolutely fine. We totally control the Strait of Hormuz. We have control over it. Nobody else, only us. Our Navy is unbelievable. And things are going great for our country.
Go ahead.
Security Protocol for the President's July 8 Departure From Ankara, Turkey
Q. Mr. President, can you tell us about your ride on the airport catering truck in Turkey? Why did you need to do that?
The President. Well, it's only up to Secret Service. I just follow what they'd like to do. So I go by Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane, equal safety, but they wanted me to do it, so I do it. I do what they say.
The President's Personal Security
Q. What was the nature of the threat?
The President. I guess there was a threat out there. I didn't really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats.
Senator Darline Graham Nordone
Q. Mr. President, Darline Graham has made it to the runoff election in South Carolina.
The President. I heard. Good.
Q. What are you going to do to help her get over the finish line?
The President. Well, she just called me to thank me for the endorsement, and it's great that she's doing so well. And she's a very good woman, and she's got good genetics because she's related to Lindsey, who's a real professional. So we'll see.
I'm going to call her right now. She just called me 2 minutes ago. She won by how many points?
Q. Well, it's not done yet, but she's clearly the victor as opposed to all the other people.
The President. She's definitely in a runoff, and that's good. That's what you want.
Q. Will you campaign for her down in South Carolina?
The President. Yes, I think so. Yes. I mean, just so you understand, I like the other people in the race also. They're all Trump. I mean, they're all Trumpers. But, you know, I endorsed her. I think she's great. It's really in honor of her brother, and she's really a very smart woman. You
know, Lindsey loved his sister. More than anything else, he would tell me about his sister, that she's just outstanding. He actually said she's better than him. That was hard for Lindsey to say.
So she's out there. She's doing a great job.
2028 Presidential Election
Q. Mr. President, you've mentioned 2028 several times in the last few weeks. At the dinner, you put on a Trump 2028 hat.
The President. Yes.
Q. Are you serious about seeking a third term?
The President. Everybody asks me that question, and you know that the law is very strong on that. I'd love to run, but the law is very strong. I get asked by every—well, even tonight they're screaming at the event, "2028."
No, everybody wants me to do it, but the law is very strong. Thank you very much, everybody.
Q. Mr. President——
Newly Refurbished Presidential Aircraft/Security Protocol for the President's July 8 Departure From Ankara, Turkey
Q. The Turkey flight. Air Force One still flew out of Turkey with press, with White House officials on it. How much of——
The President. Well, this one went over to England where it was shown to the soldiers.
Q. But it was still at risk even though you weren't——
The President. No, I know. But this one went over to England because the soldiers wanted to see it.
Q. Right. But the one that——
The President. And it stopped, and they showed it to the soldiers, and we did a switch over there. And it was really as per the military, and I just have to do what they say. They go for safety, and I have to do what they say.
Q. Mr. President, on the midterms——
Probable Security Threats Behind the President's July 8 Departure Protocol
Q. Why was it too dangerous for you to fly on Air Force One but not too dangerous for the press?
The President. Well, I don't know. I think, actually, the plane that I flew on was at greater risk. I think it was at greater risk——
Q. Why do you say that?
The President. ——because that would be the plane, I think, that we—that they would be more likely to go for.
Q. Mr. President——
The President's Personal Security
Q. Were you surprised, Mr. President, that the Secret Service was telling you to take that third plane?
The President. No, not surprised. I have a lot of threats. I have a lot of threats that you don't know about. Any consequential President has a lot of threats. Nonconsequential Presidents don't get threatened. And I think that I'm maybe the most consequential.
Q. How close was Iran to pulling something off do you think?
Q. Mr. President, may I ask——
The President. Because nobody has done more than me in a period of almost 6 years. There's nobody.
Security Protocol for the President's July 8 Departure From Ankara, Turkey
Q. Were you worried about a shoulder-fired missile?
The President. I don't worry about anything, to be honest. Whatever it is—you know my attitude? Whatever.
Iran/Commercial Transit Through the Strait of Hormuz
Q. How can you trust Iran at all? They tried to kill you, Mr. President.
The President. I don't trust Iran. Why? Are you saying I trust Iran? I'm the last person to trust Iran. They've lied to me constantly. We have total control over the Hormuz Strait right now. They don't have control. We have total control. We own it. And at some point, maybe they'll do something, and then they get blown away.
But we—right now we're in a very good position. We have a country that has been the bully of the Middle East for 50 years. It's really, 51, if you think about it, right? We've been saying 47 for 4 years. And they're no longer the bully of the Middle East.
Thank you very much, everybody.
NOTE: The President spoke at 8:57 a.m. on the tarmac after exiting Air Force One en route from Geneva, OH.
Categories: Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters, Joint Base Andrews, MD.
Locations: Joint Base Andrews, MD. Names: Graham Nordone, Darline.
Subjects: 2026 midterm elections; Air Force One, VC–25B bridge aircraft; Iran, commercial transit through Strait of Hormuz; Iran, diplomatic engagement with U.S.; Iran, regional involvement; Maryland, Joint Base Andrews; Maryland, President's visit; News media, Presidential interviews; Ohio, Freedom 250 Patriot Games final in Geneva; Stock market; U.S. Secret Service.
DCPD Number: DCPD202600533.