OAN Staff Sophia Flores and Brooke Mallory
5:15 PM – Thursday, October 2, 2025
In an exclusive one-on-one interview with One America News’ Daniel Baldwin, President Donald Trump declared that crime is one of the most urgent challenges facing the United States.
After successfully lowering the crime rate in Washington, D.C., in record time, in addition to announcing his intention to send troops to Memphis, Tennessee, he confirmed to One America News (OAN) that National Guard forces will also be deployed to Chicago, Illinois, for much needed help — despite the city’s Democrat mayor opposing the intervention.
During an exclusive interview with OAN’s Chief White House Correspondent Daniel Baldwin, sitting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, the 47th Commander-in-Chief touched on a wide range of topics important to the American people, including the recent shutdown of the U.S. government, the 2026 midterms, the economy, rising crime in U.S. cities, and more.
The discussion opened with the ongoing government shutdown — the first in the United States since 2018. The GOP president noted that, despite supporting a clean continuing resolution (CR) in March, Democrats are now being obstinate because they so desperately want illegal aliens to receive free healthcare, on the American taxpayers’ dime.
“Democrats are demanding health care for everybody,” Representative Maxine Waters (D‑Calif.) said in a Thursday interview with the New York Post when asked why Democrats voted against the continuing resolution. “We want to save lives. We want to make sure that health care is available to those who would die not having the help of their government.”
In the recent OAN interview, Trump warned that if this were to be allowed, then every foreigner would attempt to illegally enter the United States, demanding “give us free healthcare,’” which would ultimately lead to the country’s collapse — as “no country has enough money to take care of that.”
He also criticized Democrats for advocating open borders, easy access to transgender surgeries for minors, and allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports — policies he has consistently opposed.
When asked about his meeting with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Trump surprisingly called both leaders “total gentlemen,” saying the Oval Office meeting went very well. However, he added, once the two left the White House, “that all changed.”
The 47th president called the situation “sad.”
While the duration of the shutdown remains uncertain, it will likely lead to mass layoffs due to Democrats’ failure to pass the Republican CR. Furthermore, numerous projects — including those previously supported by Democrats — may face permanent cancellation because of the funding shortfall caused by the shutdown.
Nonetheless, the GOP president expressed hope that the shutdown would be brief, making it clear that he is not a supporter of the disruption.
“A lot of people are saying that I wanted this—and I didn’t want it,” Trump affirmed.
Trump has delivered — and even surpassed — several of his campaign promises. When asked how Americans would feel the effects of his fulfilled pledges in 2026, he credited the “Big, Beautiful Bill” as a major driver.
The legislation, which Trump dubs as the “Great Big Beautiful Bill” ensures continued tax cuts and regulatory relief for Americans. It introduces new deductions on federal taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security (for seniors), while locking in and expanding tax cuts from his first administration. These combined measures, Trump continued, will usher in record economic growth for Americans.
The president stated that within his first eight months back in office, he has already secured trillions worth of investment commitment pledges to be funneled into the United States. He also emphasized that during former President Joe Biden’s four years in office, his administration wasn’t able to come close to that figure.
Trump stressed that the surge in investments flowing into the United States is largely attributable to the tariffs he implemented upon taking office. In turn, the trade deficit was cut in half, something that “nobody thought would be possible to do so quickly — except me,” he added.
“We are becoming a country that is so rich, so powerful, it gives us power, so rich,” he said. “And we can take care of people. We can help other countries frankly. But the numbers we’re making, nobody thought it was possible. Now they’re all saying Trump was right.”
When asked how the additional revenue from tariffs — projected to generate trillions of dollars annually for the U.S. — would be used, Trump said he plans to apply it toward paying down the national debt.
“With the kind of growth, we have now, the debt is very low relatively speaking,” Trump said. “You grow yourself out of that debt. The numbers we have now are bigger than they ever were. We also might make a distribution to the people.”
“We’re thinking almost $1,000 to $2,000.”
The GOP president has made it a point not to overlook Americans in need — a contrast to his predecessor. President Trump has visited places like East Palestine, Ohio — following the toxic train derailment incident — and re‑wet flood‑ravaged areas in North Carolina, among others, citing those trips as evidence he’s prioritized “forgotten” cities.
During the Biden administration, a slew of news reports raised concerns that certain Biden policies, such as continued foreign aid spending and appointments of wealthy individuals to key positions, prioritized international initiatives and elite interests — rather than the average American.
“I care more about the people,” the president stated. “I think it’s disgraceful the way people were being treated by the Biden administration.”
In the one-on-one discussion with OAN’s Daniel Baldwin, Trump stated that around “25 million people” entered the U.S. from prisons, jails, and mental institutions during the Biden administration — damaging the quality of life.
“The fabric of our country was changing,” he emphasized.
Since resuming office, President Trump has prioritized the removal of individuals who have entered the country illegally, particularly those with criminal records who pose a threat to public safety and the well-being of American citizens.
In August, Trump deployed the National Guard to patrol high-crime urban areas in the nation’s capital. Two weeks after Trump stationed more than 2,000 National Guard troops in Washington, D.C, there was a significant fall in violent crime overall.
“It’s never been better than it is right now,” he said of Washington, D.C. “And we’re gonna keep it that way!”
Next, Trump plans to deploy troops to Memphis, Tennessee, Portland, Oregon, and then Chicago, Illinois — the latter being the very city he initially selected for National Guard deployment. However, that decision drew sharp criticism from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D‑Ill.), a vocal Trump critic who openly opposed the move.
“We’re gonna save Chicago,” the GOP president promised.
Trump made it known that the FBI has already been in the Windy City for the past five months, “getting it ready for what we are going to be doing.”
According to reports, on Tuesday, federal agents, including those from the FBI, U.S. Border Patrol, and ATF, conducted a large-scale immigration enforcement raid on an apartment building in the South Shore neighborhood. The operation, part of “Operation Midway Blitz,” resulted in the detention of 37 individuals.
“We’re gonna lose Chicago and we don’t want that to happen,” he asserted.
While President Trump did not give an official date, he ensured that “it will be happening very soon.”
Trump also argued that it’s the people in these cities — not Democrat leaders — who want the National Guard deployed.
“The people want safety … I don’t care, whether I were a Democrat or anything else — I’d be begging Trump [speaking in third person] to step in, bring in troops, or do whatever it takes,” the president added.
The 47th Commander-in-Chief highlighted that Democrat leaders who refuse federal assistance often face damaged reputations, noting that whenever he deploys troops to blue cities, the leaders sue him — yet he consistently prevails in court.
Trump also criticized Democrats for escalating the tone of political discourse, warning that their rhetoric — labeling conservatives as “Nazis,” “racists,” or “fascists” — has made the political climate increasingly toxic and dangerous.
Watch the full interview on One America News or on OAN Live.
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