President Donald Trump made a last-minute appeal to voters by telephone on Fox News on Tuesday, the day of the US congressional midterm elections, presenting his record as a success and urging supporters to preserve it, according to WELT.
"We are great now. Two years ago we were terrible," Trump said, adding that the country must stay that way in a reference to his "Make America Great Again" slogan.
The remarks came as voters went to the polls in contests that will shape the second half of his term, and they mixed optimistic assertions about the economy and foreign policy with familiar claims about the border.
Why it matters
Midterm results determine control of Congress, and Trump's closing message was aimed at turning out supporters at the final hour. Several of his claims are contested by other officials or by the record, and they set out the terms on which he is asking voters to judge his administration.
His characterization of the economy is the clearest example. Trump said the inflation problem had been "solved." The Federal Reserve, however, left its key interest rate unchanged the previous week rather than cutting it as Trump had wanted. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh explained the decision by saying inflation is too high, WELT reports.
Hormuz, tariffs and the border
On foreign policy, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway central to global oil and gas shipping, was "completely under control" through a naval blockade against Iran. Since the Iran war began in late February, Tehran has largely blocked the strait and repeatedly attacked ships there, while the US imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports.
On trade, Trump said "everything is going well" and that carmakers were flocking to the US to avoid tariffs. He cited Audi's recent announcement that it would build its first plant in the country.
Turning to immigration, Trump said the US border had been "open" before his presidency and that "millions and millions" of people had entered, including many criminals and murderers. WELT describes these as unsubstantiated or exaggerated statements.
He also said the US had once been "a laughingstock around the world" and was now "the hottest country in the world," respected by everyone, and promised to keep it that way and improve on it.
What to watch
With polls now closed in many states, attention shifts to results in the races that will decide control of Congress, and to how the White House adjusts its message once the outcome is known.
