President Donald Trump, now 80 and almost halfway through his second term, sat down with ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith in the White House’s Roosevelt Room for a wide-ranging interview about the midterm elections, the conflict with Iran and his plans for the rest of his presidency.

The question about regrets

The interview came soon after the midterm elections, where Republicans had a disappointing night. Many voters said they were worried about rising costs, especially gas and grocery prices, which climbed after the US launched military strikes on Iran.

The Trump administration has defended the strikes as necessary, arguing that Iran was close to building a nuclear weapon and had to be stopped.

Smith asked Trump directly whether he would do anything differently in his first 21 months back in office.

Trump’s answer

Trump paused and then talked through the main decision of his term, the attack on Iran. He admitted there was a “small possibility” that Iran would never have used a nuclear weapon. If that were the case, he said, he might have to admit the strikes were a mistake.

He quickly added that he believes the opposite is far more likely. In his view, a nuclear-armed Iran would probably have used the weapon and caused destruction across the entire Middle East and beyond.

It was a rare moment of reflection from a president who usually presents his decisions as completely settled. Only weeks earlier, he had told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that he doesn’t “believe in the word regret.”

Trump vs. Obama?

Smith then asked how Trump would do in a hypothetical election against former President Barack Obama.

Trump didn’t hesitate. He said he received more votes than Obama and holds records in several large states. “I think I’d beat him easily,” he said, and called Obama “highly overrated.”

What comes next: vetoes and deals

Looking ahead to his final two years, Trump made clear he expects more fights with Congress. He said he plans to veto many bills that he considers bad for the country, especially in the beginning.

Trump predicted that lawmakers will eventually come to him ready to negotiate, and that this could lead to deals on major issues like healthcare and prescription drug prices.

Whether those deals actually happen remains to be seen. Trump’s comments suggest the rest of his term will bring plenty of clashes, and possibly some compromise, between the White House and Congress.

What do you think of Trump’s answer? Share your thoughts in the comments. 👇