Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2026
February 1, 2026
The President. Hello, everybody.
Q. Good morning, Mr. President.
Q. How are you doing, Mr. President?
The President. Well, a big day. One of our great people, Dan and Erin, they're getting married. And so, that's a big day. Very loyal, very fantastic people.
Iran
Q. Sir, on Iran, the Supreme Leader today said that a U.S. attack could spark a regional war. Do you have any response to that, sir?
The President. Why wouldn't he say that? Of course, you're going to say that. But we have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there. Very close. A couple of days. And hopefully, we'll make a deal. If we don't make a deal, then we'll find out whether or not he was right.
Texas Special Election
Q. Mr. President, on Texas, a Democrat won a special election in an area that you had won by 17 points. What is your reaction to that?
The President. I don't know. I didn't hear about it. Somebody ran where?
Q. In Texas. A special election for legislative seat.
Q. The 9th State Senate seat.
The President. I'm not involved in that. That's a local Texas race.
Q. Did you endorse the Republican candidate?
The President. You mean I won by 17——
Q. You did.
The President. ——and this person lost?
Q. The Republican lost.
The President. Things like that happen.
2026 Midterm Elections
Q. Does it worry you about the midterms?
The President. Well, you don't know whether or not it's transferable. You know, I'm not on the ballot, so you don't know whether or not it's transferable.
But, you know, if you put the Democrats in, you'll end up with open borders again. You'll end up with crime all over the place. We have no crime anymore. I mean—I mean, think of it. The country has the lowest crime it's had in 125 years, in recorded history. The year 1900. That's a long time ago. So it's very good.
No, I don't know anything about it. I didn't know—I mean, I know there's a race going there.
And it's too bad. I mean, what can I say? I have nothing to do with it.
Yes.
Cuba
Q. Sir, what do you want out of a Cuba deal?
The President. Well, Cuba is a failing nation; it has been for a long time. But now it doesn't have Venezuela to prop it up. So we're talking to the people from Cuba, the highest people in Cuba. We'll see what happens.
I want the people that came here that were horribly treated by Cuba to be taken care of, to be able to go back and do what they have to do. You know, they have their family there. They haven't been able to see them in years—many, many years. So I think we're going to make a deal with Cuba.
Q. President Trump, back to Texas.
The President. It's in bad shape. Cuba is in bad shape. Cuba has a humanitarian problem.
Texas Senate Election
Q. Do you have any plans to endorse in that Senate race? Has your mind changed at all——
The President. Which Senate race?
Q. In Texas, the GOP primary.
The President. I'm giving it very serious thought. You know, my problem is I'm friendly with all of them. Those are the hard ones. I like all of them—all three. But you'll be seeing soon. Okay? They say whoever I endorse wins. That's probably right.
Federal Law Enforcement Practices/Border Security
Q. Do you support all Federal Border Patrol agents and ICE wearing body cams?
The President. We'll be talking about that in the near future. Okay? But you saw my note that I put out yesterday. I was pretty—I think it was pretty conclusive.
Look, we stopped crime in our country, and the border is the best it's ever been. Thank you very much. I've got to go to a wedding. Thank you.
NOTE: The President spoke at 12:23 a.m. at the Mar-a-Lago Club. In his remarks, he referred to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Daniel J. Scavino; Art in Embassies Director Erin M. Elmore; Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khamenei of Iran; Texas Republican State senatorial candidate Leigh Wambsganss; and Texas Republican senatorial candidates Sen. John Cornyn III, State Attorney General W. Kenneth Paxton, Jr., and Rep. Wesley Hunt. A reporter referred to Texas State Senator-elect Taylor Rehmet.
Categories: Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters, Palm Beach, FL. Locations: Palm Beach, FL.
Names: Cornyn, John, III; Elmore, Erin M.; Hunt, Wesley; Khamanei, Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-; Paxton, W. Kenneth, Jr.; Scavino, Daniel J.; Wambsganss, Leigh.
Subjects: 2026 midterm elections; Border security; Cuba, political and economic stability; Florida, President's visit; Iran, Supreme Leader; Iran, U.S. diplomatic efforts; News media, Presidential interviews; White House Deputy Chief of Staff.
DCPD Number: DCPD202600075.