Donald Trump criticized overburdened air traffic controllers, blamed political rivals for weak economic signals, and warned that expanded food stamp access had “put the country in jeopardy” during an exclusive Fox News interview Monday night.
Speaking with Laura Ingraham, the president covered topics from mortgages to foreign policy and repeatedly attacked political opponents, including California governor Gavin Newsom and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, following Ingraham’s prompts.
The interview aired as the Senate moved to end the longest government shutdown in US history. Trump outlined his approach to the healthcare subsidy dispute at the center of the funding impasse. Democrats want to extend tax credits that lower Affordable Care Act premiums for millions; Republicans argue the credits chiefly benefit insurers.
“I want the money to go into an account for people where they buy their own health insurance,” Trump told Ingraham, suggesting the plan could be branded “Trump Care.” “They’re gonna feel like entrepreneurs. They’re actually able to go out & negotiate their own insurance.”
Ingraham also pressed him about a Truth Social post criticizing air traffic controllers who took leave during recent staffing shortfalls that led to delays and safety worries. The Federal Aviation Administration was already facing controller shortages before the shutdown; the loss of pay during the shutdown intensified the problem. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said many controllers had worked up to 10-hour days, six days a week without pay and some had taken second jobs to make ends meet. Thousands of flights were canceled at major airports.
“Life is not so easy for anybody,” Trump said. “Our country has never done better. We should not have had people leaving their jobs.” He defended his post and reiterated a pledge to give $10,000 to anyone who worked through the entire shutdown. When asked where the money would come from, he replied, “I will always get the money from someplace.”
