'Everything's going good' — Trump cites immigration, Iran, tariffs in election day pitch

US President Donald Trump has defended his record in a final TV phone-in pitch to voters on the morning of midterm elections, saying he had rebuilt the country through his immigration crackdown, war on Iran and tariff policy.

"We have to keep America great. We're great now. We were terrible two years ago," Trump told the "Fox & Friends" show released on Tuesday as millions of Americans voted in elections that could see his Republican Party lose control of Congress.

Polls predict Democrats will win the House of Representatives and have a shot at the Senate, and Trump, whose own ratings have plunged, targeted his last-minute message at his right-wing base.

"We were a laughing stock all over the world," he said. "The leaders of other countries didn't even take us seriously. They thought we were fools, and we're hot now. We're the hottest country in the world. We're respected by everybody.

"We're going to keep it that way and get better."

In his second term, Trump has dramatically cut the number of migrants crossing the US border from Mexico and launched a war on Iran that has caused gas prices to soar for Americans.

"When I took over, the border was open. We were having millions and millions of people pour in, many criminals and murderers," he said.

"They were released from jails from the Congo in Africa, from all over South America, from Asia. They were pouring into our country. It was just a horrible sight, and they were very dangerous."

"The inflation is solved," he added, "And the Hormuz Strait, we have total control of it with the Navy blockade (on Iran). I mean, everything's going good.

"Car companies are pouring in because they don't want to pay tariffs."

Trump said that if Americans ever got tired of him, he would move to Israel and become prime minister.

"In fact, if people ever got tired of me in the US, I'll move to Israel and become prime minister. Think of it: I'm at 99 percent, I have the highest approval rating of anybody in history!"

Voter concerns

But some voters who shared their thoughts about what was on their minds and motivating their choices, said that with gasoline prices up by a third since last year and diesel prices nearly double — not to mention sharp food price inflation — everyday prices were on many people's minds.

"It's about the cost of living, gas prices, those kind of things. It needs to change for the everyday person, and I'm an everyday person," Donta Comer, a 38-year-old project manager in Atlanta, Georgia, told AFP news agency.

"I am very concerned about climate change, school violence and the situation with people who still don't have immigration status in this country," Diana Alvarez, a 38-year-old Cuban-born attorney said in Doral, Florida.

Trump's most consequential foreign policy decision of his second term — the February 28 war on Iran along with Israel — was referenced by several voters.

"It's discouraging. Again, promises made, promises not kept. 'No new wars' was the mantra," Wes Pyron, a 37-year-old who works at an environmental health nonprofit in Washington, said.

"I don't understand what we’re doing there, objectives aren’t clear, priorities aren’t clear."

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TRT World and Agencies — TRT World and Agencies

Photo: AFP