TRUMP QUESTIONS ZELENSKY'S LEADERSHIP, HARDENS RHETORIC ON EUROPEAN IMMIGRATION AND JOINS THE MIDTERM ELECTION FIGHT
The U.S. president admits to talks with Putin and Xi Jinping on the war in Ukraine, advocates strengthening Europe's borders, comments on the Hispanic vote and responds to questions about Venezuela's political future.
WASHINGTON, USA — U.S. President Donald Trump has once again placed international politics and border security at the center of American political debate. Speaking to reporters on October 19, before traveling to Kansas, where he took part in an event supporting Republicans in the midterm elections, the head of state addressed the war in Ukraine, the protests in France and Italy, the political situation in Venezuela and the Republican Party's electoral prospects.
The remarks showed Trump's intention to link foreign policy, migration control and domestic security to the political contest in the United States. The president advocated a more restrictive approach to European immigration, criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's conduct of the war, and expressed confidence in the electoral support he says he continues to receive from different segments of the American electorate.
Trump admits to negotiations on Ukraine without Zelensky present
One of the central topics of the conversation with reporters was the possibility of a meeting between Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, amid diplomatic efforts to find a way out of the war in Ukraine.
Trump said he would be willing to take part in talks aimed at ending the conflict, regardless of whether other political figures were present. The U.S. president also tied the possibility of a meeting to his trip to China, planned for November, highlighting denuclearization as one of the objectives he wants to discuss.
"I would do whatever I could to end the war, whether or not anyone is present," Trump said, adding that a possible denuclearization agreement would be a significant benefit to the world.
The remarks come at a delicate moment for international diplomacy. Any negotiation between Washington, Moscow and Beijing without Kyiv's direct participation would raise questions about the representation of Ukrainian interests and the role of the countries involved in defining a possible peace deal.
Trump's willingness does not, in itself, mean that the trilateral meeting has been formally agreed or that there is a definitive understanding among the parties.
U.S. president again pressures Zelensky
Trump also reacted to statements attributed to Zelensky, according to which the U.S. president would be on the wrong side of history.
In response, the American leader said Zelensky does not properly understand the situation and again blamed him for the absence of a deal that, in Trump's view, could have been reached much earlier.
"Zelensky is a man who should have settled this war a long time ago," Trump declared, arguing that Ukraine could have obtained better negotiating terms had it followed his advice.
The U.S. president went further, arguing that perhaps the time has come for someone else to take over negotiations on Ukraine's behalf. In his assessment, the territorial changes resulting from the conflict would not justify the high number of human casualties.
Trump said millions of people have been affected by the war and referred to the loss of a significant portion of Ukraine's male population. However, the figures presented by the president should be understood as political statements, not as an independent, confirmed death toll.
Trump's position reinforces doubts about the future of U.S. strategy toward Ukraine. While Washington seeks to present itself as a possible mediator, Kyiv faces the challenge of defending its sovereignty and avoiding an agreement it considers unfavorable.
France and Italy at the center of criticism of European migration policy
Another prominent topic was the social and political situation in France and Italy, countries Trump used as examples to argue for a profound change in European migration policy.
Asked about the protests and episodes of violence recorded in Europe, the U.S. president rejected the idea that the problems were essentially related to schools or other social issues. In his interpretation, immigration and certain governments' inability to control their borders are at the root of the instability.
Trump said he had advised French President Emmanuel Macron to strengthen border control, warning that continuing current policies could compromise the country's future.
"Close your borders," Trump said, recalling the advice he says he gave Macron.
The U.S. president further maintained that France, Italy and other European countries risk facing more serious consequences if they do not strengthen migration control mechanisms and do not expel foreigners who have committed crimes, respecting applicable legal procedures.
"If Europe doesn't close its borders and remove the criminals, Europe is finished," he declared.
Trump also accused certain immigrant groups of failing to respect host countries, their institutions, their monuments and their cultural values.
These statements represent the U.S. president's political position. The relationship between immigration, crime, protests and social instability, however, requires broader analysis, one that also considers economic factors, social inequalities, government decisions and the specific circumstances of each demonstration.
Immigration, by itself, does not automatically explain the episodes of violence or the difficulties facing European societies.
What could happen to Europe if border problems persist?
The discussion raised by Trump poses an important question for Europe's future: how to reconcile border control, public safety, economic needs and the fulfillment of humanitarian obligations?
The absence of effective mechanisms for identification, oversight and cooperation among countries can facilitate the activities of human trafficking networks, smuggling and transnational crime. It can also make it harder to identify individuals wanted by the authorities and to manage migration flows in times of crisis.
If governments fail to respond adequately to these challenges, pressure may increase on public services, housing, reception systems and the institutions responsible for security. The perception of lost control can also fuel political polarization and strengthen movements that advocate more restrictive migration policies.
However, closing borders indiscriminately is not, by itself, a solution to all these problems. An effective policy requires organized oversight, international cooperation, action against criminal networks, functioning asylum procedures and the integration of those who are authorized to remain in the territory.
Europe's challenge is to find a balance between national sovereignty, security, fundamental rights and the needs of an economy that, in several sectors, also depends on foreign workers.
Africa offers examples of the risks of border fragility
The African reality also shows how weak institutions, insufficient oversight mechanisms and insecurity in border regions can contribute to prolonged crises.
In the Sahel region, particularly in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, armed groups and criminal networks take advantage of governance weaknesses, economic difficulties and extensive borders to move people, weapons and resources. The insecurity has caused population displacement, hindered access to basic services and weakened the state's presence in certain localities. United Nations reports identify the exploitation of poorly controlled borders as one of the factors that favor the activities of armed groups in the region.
In Sudan, meanwhile, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has caused a serious humanitarian crisis, with millions of people displaced within the country or forced to seek protection in neighboring states. The movement of refugees to countries such as Chad, South Sudan and Egypt has put pressure on host communities and humanitarian services.
These cases, however, should not be attributed exclusively to a lack of border control. In the Sahel, violence is also linked to the activity of armed groups, institutional fragility and socioeconomic factors. In Sudan, the main cause of population displacement is the war.
The comparison offers a relevant lesson: when states are unable to guarantee security, administer their territory, control illicit activities and respond to the needs of their populations, the consequences can extend beyond national borders and affect an entire region.
For African countries, including Angola, the experience demonstrates the importance of investing in border surveillance, cooperation between security services, modernization of border posts and development of communities located near the borders. The objective should not be to indiscriminately prevent the movement of people, but to distinguish legal movements from criminal activities and ensure that authorities have the capacity to respond.
Venezuela: Trump responds to question about a possible electoral contest
Venezuela also came up in the conversation with reporters, although the U.S. president did not develop a detailed position on the matter.
Asked about the possibility of Delcy RodrÃguez and MarÃa Corina Machado facing each other in a Venezuelan presidential election, Trump replied that it would be something interesting.
The response was brief and does not represent formal support for any candidacy, nor does it confirm that an election with such characteristics has been officially scheduled.
The topic remains politically relevant because of the struggle for power in Venezuela, questions about the legitimacy of its institutions and relations between Caracas and Washington.
A possible electoral contest between representatives of different political camps could have consequences for Venezuelan internal stability, for energy policy and for diplomatic relations with the United States and other countries.
For now, Trump's statement should be interpreted as a reaction to a hypothesis presented by a journalist, and not as the announcement of a new American diplomatic initiative.
Hispanic vote and midterm elections
On the domestic front, Trump expressed confidence in the support of Hispanic voters, an important electoral segment in several contests across the United States.
Asked about Republican performance among this electorate, the president said he believes the party is in a favorable position and claimed to have achieved historic results among Hispanics.
"I won with Hispanics; I did more than any Republican in history," he declared.
The statement reflects Trump's own assessment of his electoral performance. The behavior of the Hispanic electorate, however, is not uniform: it varies according to region, family origin, economic situation, age and the priorities of each community.
Issues such as jobs, inflation, immigration, security, health care and cost of living can influence voters' choices. Therefore, the confidence expressed by the president does not guarantee that Republicans will maintain the same level of support in the midterm elections.
Trump traveled to Kansas to support Republican Senator Roger Marshall, whose reelection he considers important for maintaining the party's influence in the Senate. During the conversation, he also mentioned other Republicans he is seeking to help electorally, including Dan Sullivan in Alaska and Jon Husted in Ohio.
The president praised Marshall and said his campaign trips are contributing positively to Republican performance. He acknowledged, however, that the race in Kansas is more competitive than he expected.
Trump's mobilization shows that the midterm elections will not be merely an evaluation of local candidates. Presidential popularity, the economic situation and the parties' ability to mobilize may influence the composition of Congress and the administration's room for maneuver.
Senator Elissa Slotkin and accusations of political instrumentalization
Another moment in the conversation involved Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin, following a question about statements related to possible legal proceedings against Republican officials and the potential chilling effect on young conservatives interested in entering politics.
Trump accused Democrats of instrumentalizing the government and public institutions to harm political opponents. Referring to Slotkin, he used offensive language and said this kind of conduct is driving people away from political participation.
The remarks show how the American electoral contest continues to be marked by reciprocal accusations about how institutions function and the use of the justice system in partisan struggle.
Beyond the differences between Republicans and Democrats, the episode raises an institutional question: legal proceedings must follow legal and evidentiary criteria, without partisan discrimination or political use. Accusations of this nature need to be assessed on the basis of evidence and applicable procedures, not merely on the statements of those involved.
Analysis: security, sovereignty and electoral contest
Trump's statements reveal a political strategy that links three dimensions: international diplomacy, migration control and domestic electoral mobilization.
On Ukraine, the president seeks to present himself as a leader capable of negotiating an end to the war, while pressuring Zelensky to accept a change of approach. In Europe, he uses episodes of social instability to advocate more restrictive migration policies. In the United States, he seeks to turn these issues into arguments to mobilize Republican voters and support congressional candidates.
Venezuela, for its part, continues to be an important topic in relations between Washington and Latin America, although Trump's brief response does not allow us to conclude that there is a new electoral or diplomatic strategy for Caracas.
The discourse on borders also has implications for Africa. The experience of countries affected by conflicts and by the activity of armed groups shows that border security must be accompanied by functioning institutions, economic development and regional cooperation.
The central question is not merely whether countries should close or open their borders, but how they can control their territories without compromising the rights of their populations, legal movement and economic stability.
In the European case, the future will depend on governments' ability to respond to insecurity and social pressure without reducing complex problems to a single cause. In the United States, the impact of Trump's statements will be measured, in part, by how voters react in the midterm elections.
Ultimately, the U.S. president's statements reinforce the weight of security, immigration and foreign policy in international debate, but the results of the strategies he advocates will depend on concrete decisions, cooperation between states, and the evolution of conflicts and economic conditions.
Framing sources: transcript of Donald Trump's statements to reporters on October 19, 2026; Associated Press and Reuters, on the Kansas campaign and issues related to Ukraine; United Nations and UNHCR, on security in the Sahel and population displacement in Sudan.
Editorial note: the reference to Africa was included as comparative analysis, without asserting that immigration is the sole cause of European or African crises. Trump's statements about the number of dead in Ukraine, the Hispanic vote and the situation in Europe should be presented as statements attributed to the president, and not as independent conclusions.
Sources for verifying the accuracy of the independent analysis and approach:
- Transcript of Trump's conversation with reporters — October 19
- United Nations — security in the Sahel
- UNHCR — humanitarian emergency in Sudan