In an exclusive Fox News interview with Laura Ingraham Monday night, President Donald Trump criticized air traffic controllers, faulted political rivals for weak economic signals, and warned that expanded access to food stamps had “put the country in jeopardy.”
Speaking on topics ranging from mortgages to foreign policy, Trump repeatedly attacked opponents, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, responding to questions from Ingraham. The interview aired as the Senate moved to end what has become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
On the dispute over health-care subsidies tied to the funding impasse, Trump outlined his preference for redirecting the money into individual accounts so people could purchase their own insurance. He said the plan might be labeled “Trump Care,” adding, “I want the money to go into an account for people where they buy their own health insurance. They’re gonna feel like entrepreneurs. They’re actually able to go out & negotiate their own insurance.” Democrats have pushed to extend tax credits that lower Affordable Care Act premiums for millions, while Republicans contend those credits mainly benefit insurers.
Ingraham also raised a Truth Social post in which Trump criticized air traffic controllers who took leave amid staffing shortfalls that caused delays and raised safety concerns. The Federal Aviation Administration had been experiencing controller shortages before the shutdown, and the loss of pay during the shutdown intensified the problem. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said many controllers worked up to 10-hour days, six days a week without pay, and some took second jobs to make ends meet; thousands of flights were canceled at major airports.
Trump defended his post, saying, “Life is not so easy for anybody,” and asserting that the country has “never done better.” He said officials should not have had people leaving their jobs and repeated a pledge to give $10,000 to anyone who worked through the entire shutdown. When pressed on the source of those funds, he replied, “I will always get the money from someplace.”
