Trump boasts US spies on China, Russia 'even better' in final midterm rally push
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
President Donald Trump wrapped up his midterm campaign on Sunday in Dubuque, Iowa, telling supporters that the United States conducts espionage on China and Russia 'even better' than those countries spy on America, while defending the ongoing war with Iran and asserting that inflation and oil prices were on the decline.
Trump on Espionage: 'Don't Worry About It'
Brushing aside concerns about Chinese and Russian intelligence operations targeting the US, Trump offered a blunt reassurance to the crowd. 'Somebody said, China's spying on us, sir. I said, yeah, and we're spying on them, too. Don't worry about it,' he said.
He went further, claiming American intelligence capabilities surpass those of its rivals. 'China, Russia, they're spying on us, sir. I said, that's true. And we're doing it to them also. But we do it even better. So don't worry about it,' Trump added. The remarks, characteristically candid for a sitting president, came as US-China and US-Russia tensions remain elevated across multiple fronts.
Defiant Stance on Iran War
Trump was equally forceful on the war with Iran, claiming the United States had effectively dismantled the country's military infrastructure and political leadership. 'We didn't start it. We're finishing it. We're beating the crap out of them,' he declared.
He asserted that Iran had been stripped of its radar systems, anti-aircraft weaponry, and leadership. 'We might have gotten a little far with the leaders. There's nobody to talk to. I'm trying to find somebody to talk to. Nobody wants to be president,' Trump said — an acknowledgement, couched in characteristic bravado, of the lack of an interlocutor for any potential negotiations.
He also claimed credit for preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon: 'I stopped Iran from having a nuclear weapon.'
Economy and Oil Prices: Trump's Closing Argument
At his final rally of the midterm campaign in Salina, Kansas, Trump pivoted to the economy. He cited a 1.7 per cent inflation figure over the last three months and distanced himself from price pressures inherited from his predecessor. 'Your inflation for the last three months is 1.7 per cent way down. I inherited high prices from sleepy Joe Biden. I didn't cause it,' he said.
On fuel costs, Trump argued that oil prices were 'much lower' than under both Joe Biden and Barack Hussein Obama, and forecast a further drop once the Iran conflict concludes. 'When that war is over, it's going to come plunging,' he said, characterising elevated fuel prices as 'a very small price to pay for the security of this country and for the world.'
What Is at Stake on Tuesday
Americans head to the polls on Tuesday, 4 November, with control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate hanging in the balance. The midterms serve as a crucial referendum on Trump's presidency, including his handling of the Iran war, economic management, and foreign policy posture. Trump spoke for just over two hours in Dubuque before flying to Salina for his closing event.
The outcome on Tuesday will determine whether Trump retains sufficient congressional support to continue his foreign and domestic agenda through the remainder of his term.