President touts economic gains, low crime and border security, offers specific but disputed figures

The President used the briefing to highlight what he described as major domestic accomplishments: a stock-market milestone, lower consumer prices and tightened border control. He said the Dow "broke 50,000" during his first year and framed that as being "3 years ahead of schedule."

On consumer costs, the President listed examples: gas prices in Iowa at "1 85, 1 89, and 1 99" across three stations, and said energy and groceries were down. He tied the improvements to his administration's policies and blamed Democrats for prior affordability problems.

On immigration and public safety, the President asserted the border was "extremely secure," said the administration had "9 months with 0 people coming in illegally," and described crime as "at a record low for 125 years." When asked whether he would support mass deportations, the President said the administration is "focusing on the criminals" — "the murderers, the drug dealers" — and defended selective enforcement rather than wholesale deportations of otherwise law-abiding immigrants.

Reporters pressed for details and raised concerns about blanket deportation policies. The President emphasized his political base's approval of the approach, saying his "base has never been stronger," and noted planned economic investments and factory openings as evidence of broader success. The briefing did not include supporting documentation for the specific numeric claims presented.