President Trump delivered the ultimate Republican call in Monday night, dialing directly into C-SPAN’s newly launched “Washington Journal Primetime.” Host Mimi Geerges alerted viewers to the unusual arrival by saying, “It looks like we’ve got a call from the White House,” as reported by The New York Post.

The evening program gives callers from across the country more time to offer their views on current events. Its format follows the longer-running morning program “Washington Journal,” which Trump said he regularly watches.

The president explained that the public calls provide a useful window into political sentiment. “I like to watch the call-ins because it gives me a little bit of an indication of where we are,” Trump said.

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Trump also offered his own assessment of the partisan balance among those callers. “I do okay in that. We have some great Republicans calling in, and I’m not so sure the Democrats are thrilled, but the Republicans seem to be.”

Someone could be heard laughing on air as Geerges introduced the president, although it was unclear whether the surprised reaction came from Trump’s line or from C-SPAN. The unexpected White House call stood apart even on a switchboard known for unpredictable moments.

C-SPAN’s phone lines periodically attract prank callers, exotic policy proposals and conspiracy theories. Washington journalists even joke about swapping stories of the strange questions they have encountered while trying to maintain a straight face.

Geerges moved from Trump’s viewing habits to substantive questions about immigration enforcement and the Iran war. On immigration, she asked about the treatment of “the honest people who are just kind of trying to make a life and paying their taxes.”

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Trump said his mass deportation effort has applied less pressure to illegal immigrants who are not considered public safety threats. He drew a sharp distinction between those individuals and murderers or drug dealers.

“We certainly haven’t put the same push on them as we have on the murderers or the drug dealers. Frankly, a big problem we had is the mental institutions being dumped into our country,” Trump said.

The president specifically mentioned workers in restaurants and agriculture when describing the difference in enforcement pressure. “We haven’t put the same pressure on waitresses and on farm workers, etc. Not even close.”

The interview also turned to outgoing Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and his impeachment resolution against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. A House Republican vote on the resolution could occur as early as this week.

Trump said he would “be disappointed” if House Republicans supported Massie’s effort. Defending Hegseth, Trump said, “Pete has won two wars. I mean, he’s been the head person in two wars.”

Geerges also asked how much longer the Iran war would continue. Hours earlier at a White House briefing, Trump had described the conflict as “effectively over” militarily while saying he would maintain the “status quo” of a naval blockade.

During the C-SPAN call, Trump did not offer a specific timeline for the war. “Well, it depends. I mean, we could knock it out fast,” he said.

Trump then raised Pickaxe Mountain while discussing possible further action and Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“We may have to hit Pickaxe Mountain if they’re going to do something. We don’t see that. We have the eye in the sky on it very strongly, and we don’t see it. But bottom line is we can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon because they’d use it.”

President Trump Calls In to Washington Journal Primetime

C-SPAN host Mimi Geerges: "We heard that you like to watch C-SPAN. What do you like to watch?" President Trump: "I like to watch the call-ins because it gives me a little of an indication of where we are." https://t.co/wMrZmy3FSW — CSPAN (@cspan) November 10, 2026

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