'This Week' Transcript 10-11-26: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Majority Whip Tom Emmer & Kansas Democratic Senate Candidate Adam Hamilton
This is a rush transcript of "This Week" airing Sunday, October 11.
A rush transcript of "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" airing on Sunday, October 11, 2026 on ABC News is below. This copy may not be in its final form, may be updated and may contain minor transcription errors. For previous show transcripts, visit the "This Week" transcript archive.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JONATHAN KARL, ABC “THIS WEEK” CO-ANCHOR: Just 23 days until the midterm elections, and Republicans are on defense. “THIS WEEK” starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARL: Fiery debates.
ABDUL EL-SAYED, (D) MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE: So I --
MIKE ROGERS, (R) MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE: And he could not even muster --
EL-SAYED: I’ve condemned that. I didn’t turn it into a political theater like you just did.
ROGERS: No, he did not. He did not.
SEN. JON OSSOFF, (D) GEORGIA: Whatever Donald Trump says, Mike Collins does.
REP. MIKE COLLINS, (R) GEORGIA SENATE CANDIDATE: Don’t let him fool you. He talks one way and he votes another way.
KARL: As some Republicans push back on Trump.
REP. ASHLEY HINSON, (R) IOWA: And I’ll be President Trump’s ally when it is important for Iowa, but I will push back on him.
KARL: Lifeline for Putin. President Trump says he’ll lift sanctions on Russian diesel. Critics say it won’t lower prices, but it will help Russia, as it pits Trump against Ukraine.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.
KARL: This morning, a “THIS WEEK” exclusive. President Zelenskyy responds.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINE PRESIDENT: We are defending our sovereignty. It’s our rights. So don’t stop us.
KARL: Trouble in the heartland for Republicans.
How much of a factor for you would be who Donald Trump has endorsed?
STEVE BOWLIN, KANSAS VOTER: None.
KARL: We’re on the ground in ruby red Kansas with the pastor who is hoping to be the first Democratic senator from Kansas in nearly a century.
When were you a Republican?
REV. ADAM HAMILTON, (D) KANSAS SENATE NOMINEE: Most of my life, actually.
KARL: Really?
As Republicans spend millions to keep Kansas red.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What I see across the state are Republicans coming home.
KARL: Majority whip Tom Emmer joins us as Republicans fight to keep control of the House.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: From ABC News it’s “THIS WEEK.” Here now, Jonathan Karl.
KARL: Good morning. Welcome to “THIS WEEK.”
We have a major exclusive this morning. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy joins us to respond to President Trump’s stunning comments this week about lifting Russian sanctions and calling for a new president of Ukraine.
But first, major developments in the battle for Congress. President Trump has made the midterms a referendum on his job as president, telling voters over and over again to pretend that he is the one on the ballot. Republican candidates are facing voters uneasy, even angry about high prices and an unpopular war.
There’s also growing unease over aggressive immigration enforcement. One of the latest incidents, another ICE shooting this week, this one in New York City. A man shot in his car as his five-year-old son sat in the back seat.
Trump himself is increasingly unpopular. And amidst the economic anxiety, he is often focused elsewhere. The arch, the Reflecting Pool, the Kennedy Center, the ballroom. On Friday, the White House releasing this video of him touring his favorite White House construction project.
He’s been plastering his name and image on buildings in the capital. In a new poll this week, 72 percent of Americans say it’s inappropriate to name a federal institution or building after a U.S. president while in office and 71 percent in that same poll oppose adding Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center, something he’s still trying to do. Only 11 percent of Americans think that’s a good idea.
Against that backdrop, Democrats appear to be getting closer to winning control of the House. And in the battle for control of the Senate, Republicans are now playing defense and spending tens of millions of dollars in some of the most Republican states in the country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CROWD: USA! USA!
KARL (voice over): President Trump made a plea to voters just after Labor Day.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So, I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot. I’m on the ballot.
KARL (voice over): This week, Democrats did exactly that.
ABDUL EL-SAYED, (D) MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE: No thinking. No thought. Whatever Donald Trump says, jump. He says, how high?
SEN. JON OSSOFF, (D) GEORGIA: Whatever Donald Trump says, Mike Collins does.
TROY JACKSON, (D) MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE: She would not stand up, and her Republican colleagues would not stand up to Donald Trump.
KARL (voice over): In races across the country, Republican candidates are trying to find some distance from the president without alienating his base.
REP. ASHLEY HINSON, (R) IOWA: And I’ll be President Trump’s ally when it is important for Iowa, but I will push back on him.
KARL (voice over): In Texas and Ohio and Nebraska and Iowa, Alaska and even South Carolina, Republicans are spending millions to defend Senate seats in states that Trump won by double digits in 2024. Even Kansas, perhaps the most surprising battleground of all.
KARL: Democrats haven’t won a Senate seat here in Kansas in 94 years. That’s the longest losing streak for either party anywhere in the country.
KARL (voice over): Farmer Steve Bowlin voted for Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024. Now he’s struggling with high prices for diesel and fertilizer and uncertain who he’ll vote for, for Senate.
KARL: How much of a factor for you would be who Donald Trump has endorsed?
STEVE BOWLIN, KANSAS VOTER: None.
KARL: Why is that?
BOWLIN: I don’t care who he endorses. I -- again, I want somebody that is talking for the American farmer.
KARL (voice over): Trump won Kansas by 16 points in 2024, but a “New York Times”/Siena poll last week found 55 percent of likely voters there disapprove of his job as president. The Senate race pits incumbent Roger Marshall against Democrat Adam Hamilton.
REV. ADAM HAMILTON, (D) KANSAS SENATE NOMINEE: All praise me, halleluiah.
KARL (voice over): Adam Hamilton is not a typical Democrat. He’s the pastor of the largest united methodist congregation in the country, with roughly 24,000 members. And until February of this year, he was a registered Republican.
Pastor Adam, as many know him in Kansas, is soft spoken and congenial. But in a debate at the Kansas State Fair, Hamilton hit Senator Marshall hard over the war in Iran and Trump economics.
HAMILTON: Farmers are talking about the cost of tariffs. This is not OK. This is how Washington is hurting us. And he thinks they’re OK. It’s just no big deal.
KARL (voice over): The crowd turned on their Republican senator.
CROWD: Shame on you! Shame on you!
KARL (voice over): The debate was one of Senator Marshall’s few open, public events since early last year, when a town hall meeting with voters angry about DOGE cuts went viral.
On Friday, Marshall made a rare, publicly-announced appearance. Not a town hall, but a tour of a radar manufacturing plant with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. He dismissed Hamilton’s rise among Republican voters.
SEN. ROGER MARSHALL, (R) KANSAS: I think it’s a very finite amount of people. What I see across the state are Republicans coming home.
KARL (voice over): Maybe, but not lifelong Republican and school bus driver Bruce Bratman.
KARL: You voted for Trump in 16. You voted for Trump in 20. You voted for Trump in 2024.
BRUCE BRATMAN, KANSAS VOTER And I voted for Reagan in 1980.
KARL: So, you’ve been voting Republican for a long time.
BRATMAN: Correct.
KARL: But you’re going to vote Democrat.
BRATMAN: Absolutely.
KARL: And you’re telling people to vote Democrat in the Senate race.
BRATMAN: In this particular case, yes. Yes, absolutely. Yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KARL: And Rachel Scott is with us now.
And, Rachel, we saw the nonpartisan political handicapper, The Cook Political Report, come out and shift a whole bunch of races in the direction of the Democrats. What are we seeing in our ratings?
RACHEL SCOTT, ABC NEWS SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Jon, major movement toward Democrats and some troubling signs here for Republicans. Our ABC News race ratings now show and have shifted this critical race that’s happening there in Kansas from lean Republican to a toss-up. And not only that, over here in North Carolina, we have now shifted that race toward likely Democrat.
I want to show you this pattern that is happening, not just here in the Senate, but also in the House as well. These are all of the races that will determine control of the U.S. House. And you could see here, the colors represent which party currently holds these seats. Well, since Labor Day, 33 races, 33, have shifted towards Democrats. Eight in just the last week alone.
Now, this does not mean that Democrats are going to win all of these races, but it does mean that things are starting to trend in their direction, Jon.
KARL: And one of the things driving this is Trump’s popularity, or should I say unpopularity.
SCOTT: Yes. And we are seeing a new poll out from Pew research. And take a look at these numbers, Jon. Only 30 percent of Americans approve of the president’s job performance right now. A whopping 68 percent. The majority of Americans disapprove.
I want to show you how this breaks down by different groups. So, for independents, 77 percent disapprove. Hispanic voters, which helped fuel the president’s return back to the White House in 2024, 75 percent disapprove. And that number holding and remaining the same also for young voters at 77 percent.
But perhaps the most fascinating part of this poll are where people stand that voted for President Trump and supported him the last time around. And I want you to take a look at this number right here. Thirty-one percent disapprove of the president’s job performance.
KARL: Wow.
SCOTT: That is a troubling sign for Republicans, Jon.
KARL: Yes, we have not seen numbers like that before.
Rachel, thank you very much.
And it is those 31 percent of Republicans who voted for Trump and now say they don’t approve of his job as president, that Democrats like Adam Hamilton in Kansas are trying to win over in deep red states. So, here is my interview with the pastor, hoping to be the first Democrat to win a Kansas Senate seat in nearly a century.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL: So, obviously, Trump carried Kansas three times. Huge margins every time. Why do you think they may vote for a Democrat this time around?
REV. ADAM HAMILTON, (D) KANSAS SENATE NOMINEE: Yes, well, first of all, that supports eroding in Kansas, so he's underwater here.
But if you look across the state, the normal supporters for Trump -- you know, Ag is a big supporter, have been a big supporter. They're paying $6.40 a gallon for diesel fuel. They've doubled the price of their fertilizer.
You know, again and again and again, people who have been strong supporters of Trump are paying the price for decisions made in Washington, D.C. that are harming them, and they're starting to say, “Hey, this is not OK.”
And they're not, you know, champions for the president right now, but they especially don't like a senator who only is the president's yes man. He just -- he, you know, recites what the president says. You know, he doesn't stand up for them.
And I think they feel like, where's the champion for us? You know, we might have voted for Trump, but we need a senator who's going to say, Mr. President, you know, this is not good for my people, and he's not doing that.
KARL: Because this is a conservative state, this is a Republican state. I've heard you say, I think it is, I -- I’m a liberal and I am a conservative.
HAMILTON: Yeah, absolutely.
KARL: What do you mean by that?
HAMILTON: Yeah, well, to be liberal means to be generous of spirit and open to seeing things with new eyes. Everybody should be that. To be conservative means to hold onto things that are treasures, that conserve values. Everybody should be that.
And so, I tell people, all of us are more liberal compared to somebody and we're conservative compared to somebody else. It means the willingness to listen, to understand, and to hold together both of these values.
And I've been a Republican. I've been a Democrat. You know, I value things in the Republican Party. I value things in the Democratic Party.
And it's not that you don't stand anywhere. It's that you try to say, OK, let's bring the best of these two parties together to really solve problems.
KARL: When were you a Republican?
HAMILTON: Most of my life, actually.
KARL: Really?
HAMILTON: Yeah.
KARL: So when did you stop?
HAMILTON: I was -- I became a Democrat during the Obama administration, when he was running. And so for eight years, I was a Democrat.
He asked me to preach his second inauguration, the prayer service following that. I served in his administration for a couple of years.
But then I went back to being a Republican. You're in Kansas, and if you're going to vote in the primary, most of the time, you're going to vote for Republicans.
And usually, I was trying to find moderates, people who had character, people who would represent my values.
And then I got in the voting booth, and I have always said, I want to try to find people in both parties I'm going to vote for. I'm looking for competency and character and values.
And so, I voted for people on both sides, and I'm proud to be a Democrat. But what matters to me more than the letter behind your name is who you are, what you stand for, your character. And -- and I think there's a lot of people like that in our state.
KARL: And I've heard you say that the geographic center of the Lower 48 is in Kansas.
HAMILTON: Yeah, absolutely, exactly. Lebanon, Kansas, is the geographic center. And I love that because we are the heartland of America. We are the middle of our country.
And, you know, I think we tend to be cautious about the people who are on the extremes on either of the -- you know, of the coasts. And I think Kansas has a chance to send a message to America to say, look, we got to come together, we got to work together.
I'll only get elected with Republicans voting for me.
KARL: But I heard you say last month, exact quote here, “There's a lot of things that we see in the National Democratic Party that in Kansas just don't fly.”
HAMILTON: Yeah, exactly.
KARL: “That's not who we are.”
So what are those things?
HAMILTON: Yeah. Well, so for example, you know, I was asked when I got into this race, are you a socialist or a communist? And I'm like, no, I'm just an independent-minded Democrat who cares about people and cares about our country.
And so in Kansas, you know, if you're going to be a Democratic socialist, you're not going to get elected here. It’s just -- that's not going to fly in Kansas.
You know, I think over-regulation of things is one of those things.
I get asked this a lot by -- from the Ag committee. Ag team, they’re like -- the Ag industry. They're like, just tell me, I like you a lot. I want to vote for you, but are you going to be in favor of overregulation?
Like, of course not. I think there needs to be, you know, enough regulation to keep people safe from our worst instincts. And at the same time, I don't want to overregulate anything.
I think people are looking for in Kansas a pragmatism. They're looking for leaders who are going to care for both Republicans and Democrats and are going to fight for them all and going to fight for what's best for Kansas.
So I get asked, like, if Chuck Schumer tells you to do something, what are you going to do? And my answer is, if it's good for Kansas, I'm all in. But if it's bad for Kansas, I'm a hard no.
KARL: In fact, you've said you won't support Schumer for leader.
HAMILTON: Yeah, no, no disrespect, you know, do I mean by that. But we need fresh ideas, we need fresh people. And Kansas --
KARL: Who would you like? Who would you like to see the Democratic leader in the Senate?
HAMILTON: I think there's a lot of great people that could be in that position. I think Tim Kaine is one of those guys I really respect. I think Mark Kelly is another one, Elissa Slotkin.
There's a number of people who I think are standing in that center ground, and they are thoughtful, reflective people who I think could do a great job in the leadership role.
KARL: The vice president came to campaign --
HAMILTON: Yeah.
KARL: -- against you.
HAMILTON: I consider that a great compliment that the second most powerful man in America came here to try to save Roger Marshall. I thought, okay.
KARL: But he really went after you.
HAMILTON: He did.
KARL: I mean, he said -- he called your views left-wing radicalism, dressed in the skin suit of our religion.
HAMILTON: Yeah.
KARL: Saying that -- of your religion, a view of your beliefs, that is not Christianity. This was the president -- the vice president of the United States --
HAMILTON: Yeah.
KARL: -- taking aim at your religious practice.
HAMILTON: Yeah.
KARL: You’re a pastor, very large congregation.
HAMILTON: Right.
KARL: What did you make of that?
HAMILTON: Right. Well, I thought it was a sign of desperation. And I thought it was really sad. It was pathetic. He doesn’t know me. Doesn’t know anything about my faith. He came in attacking -- you know, when did we start attacking people’s faith?
But beyond that, I just say, I wake up every morning. I slip to my knees. I offer my life to Christ. I pray for the Holy Spirit to lead me. I read scripture. I carry the Bible with me everywhere I go. I mean this is just -- it is my defining story. I memorize it. I was reading the Psalms this morning, three of them, before I started my day.
I not only seek to be a follower of Jesus, but to practice that in how I treat other people. And I just would say, examine my life, examine the way I’ve tried to live, and then I want to see, Mr. Vice President, let’s compare. Let’s compare theology. Let’s compare our faith and the impact we’re having on the world. And I just -- I mean, I don’t even want to compare myself to him. I just want to say, I’m doing the best I can as a follower of Jesus Christ every day. And I thought it was a sad statement that the vice president of the United States would come here and attack the faith of a pastor of the largest church in the state of Kansas, the largest united methodist church in the country. I’ve written 36 books on theology, faith and scripture, and I just think it was a sign of desperation.
KARL: Well, let’s look specifically at what he said. Another quote, “Democratic Pastor Adam Hamilton --
J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thinks it’s a sin to be white and a sin to raise cattle and eat meat. But he’s OK with supporting groups that spit on God-fearing Americans and mock everything that we hold dear. Ladies and gentlemen, that is not Christianity.
HAMILTON: Yes, so every single line of what you just read was a lie. It was a falsehood. It was like 180 degrees different from the reality. So, there was no part of what he said was true. And, I, you know, I find it interesting.
KARL: Let’s try to break it down.
HAMILTON: Yes. And so --
KARL: A sin to be white?
HAMILTON: No, it’s not a sin to be white. This is --
KARL: A sin to raise cattle and eat meat?
HAMILTON: No, it’s not a sin to raise cattle and eat meat. So, there was a sermon that I talked about, repenting is changing the way you think about things. It’s seeing -- literally the Greek word is metanoia (ph) for repent. It means to see -- have a change of mind that leads to a change of heart that leads to a change of behavior.
And I talked about racism. And in the context of racism, you know, part of what you’re trying to do is see the world through somebody else’s eyes. I never talked about repenting for being white. You can’t find that in anything I’ve ever said. Or repenting for eating beef.
I will just say, that’s what’s wrong with our country today, with our politics, with what’s happening in Washington, D.C., it’s a reminder of the corruption and the chaos that’s happening there that the vice president is willing to say things like that.
KARL: One issue they’d like to talk about a lot is transgender issues. What’s your approach to those issues?
HAMILTON: Yes. Well, first of all, I don’t believe that men should be competing in women’s sports. I believe that there are two genders. I believe that people may see themselves in different ways, but I believe that there are two biological genders. And then people might identify in different ways.
Here’s what I say. Here’s what I think. Two things. First of all, the president has taken a group of people that represent a very tiny minority of people who are bullied and picked on and harassed, and he’s tried to make them a campaign issue, and he’s trying to use them in order to somehow make the case that people should be afraid of trans people, as well as Democrats. And I think that, again, is pathetic. I don’t -- we’re not a nation that believes in bullying people. Our president believes in bullying people. Even in his own party, or the press, or trans people.
And here’s, for me, what it comes down to. I don’t fully understand everything there is to know about trans issues. I know that there are people, when they’re hurt, I’m going to stand by them and I’m going to say, it’s not OK to hurt people. That’s not what it looks like to love your neighbor.
KARL: So, looking ahead, what -- if Democrats win the House and the Senate --
HAMILTON: Yes.
KARL: What do you think the last two years of Trump’s presidency looks like?
HAMILTON: Well, I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about whether we’re going to win the House and the Senate. I’m focused on Kansas and trying to take care of the needs of the people here.
I do think that, for me, I’m not in favor of trying to spend two years in trials and looking at, you know, how are we going to get vengeance on people? You know --
KARL: I (INAUDIBLE) impeachment.
HAMILTON: Well, the House may choose to impeach and the Senate has to deal with it if they do. But my real focus is, how do we fix the problems we have today?
KARL: One last question. I -- I’ve seen that you’ve said that you will still be a practicing pastor if you become senator, or be part-time?
HAMILTON: Yes. Yes, very part time.
KARL: Yes. Yes.
HAMILTON: So, my full-time job will be the Senate.
KARL: And, by the way, there are others that have done that.
HAMILTON: Yes. Yes. Rafael Warnock’s doing that right now and --
KARL: Yes. And I think -- I think Lankford does. Yes, yes, yes.
HAMILTON: Yes. Yes. Absolutely. So, yes, I, you know, I'm going to Washington not to be the chaplain of the Senate or to somehow force my religion on other people. I’m going to fight for the Constitution and the rights of all people.
When I come back to Kansas City, I look forward to preaching once in a while at Resurrection. I look forward to helping mentor our next generation of leaders.
And I’ll tell you this too, showing up at the hospital to care for people who are sick, sitting with people who are dying in hospice, listening to people’s problems will make me a better senator than people like Roger Marshall, who never come back and listen to the people of Kansas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KARL: Our thanks to Adam Hamilton.
We requested an interview with Senator Roger Marshall. He did not respond.
Up next, a big and important “THIS WEEK” exclusive. Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy responds to President Trump.
We’re back in two minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think you heard about the oil deal with Russia. That is a big deal. That is massive amounts of oil coming into our country, and I want to thank President Putin.
Zelenskyy could have settled this war many times. Many, many times. And he chose -- he chooses not to. And I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL: Those stunning comments from President Trump expressing gratitude to Vladimir Putin and calling for a new president for Ukraine came after Trump announced a deal to lift U.S. sanctions and buy diesel fuel from Russia. It's a deal that appears to violate a law Congress passed shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Some experts say the deal would only marginally affect diesel prices here in America, but it could provide billions of dollars to fund Russia's war machine.
And we are joined right now by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, an ABC exclusive.
President Zelenskyy, thank you for joining.
Let me get right to what President Trump just said. What is your response? He says it's time for a new president of Ukraine.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. First of all, good morning and thank you for this dialogue.
So, this week was very difficult for us, not only geopolitically, first of all because of massive attacks, Russian attacks on our civilian infrastructure. So they attacked 196 times our energy sector. It's only electricity, plus 20 times gas and oil. And they killed for now 153 civilians.
So, I think this is an answer what's going on, really what's going on. And it's a signal that Russia doesn't feel real pressure. They want to continue.
About energy, I said it to President Trump, to president's teams, to his team and to his people several times, so we want peace. We are ready for ceasefire. We are ready to begin from any kind of steps of de-escalation. We are ready for energy ceasefire, not to attack energy both sides.
And if the Russians want us not attack their diesel, their refineries and et cetera, we are asking President Trump, give them signal, not attack energy infrastructure of Ukraine. It's fair deal. It's not the best deal. The best deal not -- not to have a war, to stop Putin. But the first step is ceasefire, energy ceasefire.
OK, if they want energy ceasefire, we are open for this. Don't attack us. Don't kill our children. We will stop attack your diesel. And I think it's fair, fair deal.
President Trump said that we need -- Ukraine needs new president. So, first of all, with all respect to President Trump, it's up to our society, up to our people to choose one or another leader. Yes, we are in war and how to do elections is really difficult. Not only that it goes absolutely not secured and it goes out of our law, out of our constitution, but the main thing is to have security infrastructure for this, to give possibility people to vote.
Of course, it's up to Ukrainians when to vote, how to do it and to choose one or another person. But if to answer -- on this question, I know that Putin wanted very much to change the president in Ukraine. I understand it.
And if President Trump really wants to have some changes in -- during elections, I also shared it with his team.
So please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days off. Total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organize elections. Of course, we will be ready for any choice of our people, exactly Ukrainian people.
KARL: It's not just President Trump. We also heard from Elon Musk saying Zelenskyy has gone too far. Why are they blaming you for the continuation of this war?
ZELENSKYY: Because these people can't find a key how to stop Putin. Because it's more difficult to stop Putin than to pressure others. Because it's more simple to speak about the prices and connect it with Ukraine.
When everybody in the world understands because of the war in Middle East, the prices are rising. They’re increasing. They’re increasing because of the war in Middle East, of the blocking of Hormuz, because of these reasons. Everybody understands it.
And if we want to speak with people fairly, if we want to be clear, if we want to speak with our nations openly, we have to stop -- I mean, people have to hear reality. Don't play games with people.
KARL: The president has announced this deal. He says to buy diesel fuel from Russia. You've called it a birthday gift to Putin. Explain why.
ZELENSKYY: Because it gives Putin money and he spends money only on this war. Kill us. Kill our children.
I was this week in one (ph) small city, they killed, they are just attacked the building, no military goals, no, no -- even something close to this building, attacked, killed 22 people, around 60 been wounded. And five children, five children, small children were killed.
And he has a lot of money, much money for this war.
KARL: How long can Ukraine continue to defend itself? It's been almost five years of war.
ZELENSKYY: We need to do it, I mean, to stop this war as quick as possible. We count that United States will help us to do this. I hope so.
We count on president, his team involving to stop Putin, but to stop Putin. And I think this is the main goal to stop him. This is the main deal to stop this war.
And we count on American support. Then, and of course, we count on our European partners.
And I hope that we will save this unity, Europe and the United States. It's not simple, by the way, really not simple. We work hardly each day to save this.
But in any way, we will defend ourselves because otherwise, we will lose our life and homes, our freedom, independence, Ukraine. Yeah, we can't lose it. And the truth is on our side.
KARL: President Zelenskyy, thank you for taking time to talk to us.
ZELENSKYY: Of course. Thank you so much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KARL: You can watch more of my interview with President Zelenskyy on abcnews.com.
Up next, Republican majority whip Tom Emmer. We’re back in two minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: But, inexcusably even NATO countries have not cut off much Russian energy and Russian energy products which, as you know, I found out about two weeks ago, and I wasn't happy. Europe has to step it up. They can't be doing what they're doing. They're buying oil and gas from Russia, while they're fighting Russia. It's embarrassing to them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARL: Well, that was President Trump speaking at the United Nations almost exactly one year ago, blasting Europe for buying Russian oil. Of course, the president announced on Friday that the U.S. now plans to do exactly the same thing. I'm joined now by House Majority Whip, Tom Emmer.
Thank you for being with us. Before we get to the midterms, what do you make of this plan to buy Russian diesel? I mean, you were obviously, you've been a strong supporter of Ukraine. You voted for those sanctions. What do you think of this?
REP. TOM EMMER, (R) MAJORITY WHIP OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Well, it's another example of our president thinking out of the box. You know, he's listening to the American people, Jon. The American people are hurting because of this world market when it comes to diesel and fuel in general.
Our president is trying to find every answer possible to help the American people literally move it forward. And when he talks about Ukraine and Russia, there is no one else, Jon, who is going to get this thing resolved. Donald Trump thinks outside of the box, put the American people first, but at the same time, he is the president of peace. I think he's two steps ahead of the press all the time.
He's thinking about how you get these conflicts resolved, conflicts by the way that were caused by President Joe Biden and his failed foreign policy and date back to President Obama and his failed foreign policy. So again, I think Donald J. Trump is the best negotiator on the face of the planet. I think this is just another step of trying to get that resolved.
KARL: I mean most energy market analysts say this would have almost no impact or very little impact on the price of diesel in the United States, but it certainly would be a lifeline for Putin.
But let me ask you one other thing from the president and from the -- from the administration this week, this idea of live streaming the execution of the Fort Hood shooter. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called it a barbaric promotion of the culture of death.
Are you in favor of that idea, of live streaming a firing squad execution?
EMMER: Well, personally, I’m not in favor of the death penalty. But I’ll tell you this, I am so happy that we have a president, a chief executive in this country who will make a decision. He’ll make a decision, which is in the best interest of the American people. He will hold the criminals and the terrorists accountable. And frankly, if you come to this country or you’re radicalized in this country to kill Americans and disrupt our way of life, there should be significant consequences.
KARL: All right, let’s turn to the midterms. The president has been telling supporters over and over again, pretend, please, that I am on the ballot. Is that the way you see the midterms? Is this a referendum on President Trump?
EMMER: I don’t think that’s what he’s saying. I think the midterms, you typically have the party that wins the White House is satisfied. Donald Trump has sealed the border that was wide open under Joe Biden. Donald Trump and Republicans have made sure that Americans didn’t get the greatest tax increase in our history. Literally, he and Republicans have been pulling the economy out of the ditch. Nobody seems to want to report on the fact that real wages are up on the rise, that poverty is at the lowest level ever. Nobody wants to report the good news that is in our economy. And this is what Donald Trump and Republicans have done.
The message is, if our people will turn out a -- you may be satisfied, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t vote. You show up and vote, we’re going to be fine, Jon.
KARL: So, I mean, we certainly are hearing Americans concerned about rising prices, rising gas prices, rising food prices. Are you saying that they just don’t get it? I mean we’re seeing this in poll after poll after poll going on. I was just in Kansas. I certainly heard it there. Are you saying people don’t get it, that the economy is much better?
EMMER: Jon, yes, I hate to point the finger at you and the other journalists, but have you reported that under Joe Biden, it was -- the average was over $5 a gallon. Under Donald Trump, he’s pulled it all the way back, even with the action that had to be taken to make sure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon. It’s closer to $4. It’s about a 13 percent belower (ph) -- below what Joe Biden had. Grocery inflation. Under Biden it was 13 point something. Under Donald Trump, it’s two percent. It’s 11 points better. But you guys don’t report this stuff.
So, I’m not saying the American people don’t get it. They don’t get the truth from the people that are reporting it.
KARL: Well -- yes, I mean, look, as you well know, the price of gas is higher today than it was the day that Joe Biden left office. So, certainly inflation was a huge issue in the last administration. It’s also a big issue to the American people here right now.
Let me ask you, the president --
EMMER: Wait, Jon --
KARL: Yes.
EMMER: Jon, I would -- I would say this on that, $4 gas, $6 diesel, entirely unacceptable. We -- Republicans agree on that. But it’s not enough to vote for communists.
KARL: So, and I -- I think most Democrats would say they’re -- they’re not communists. So, there aren’t a lot of communists on the ballot in these -- in these midterms.
EMMER: Well you’re wrong, they are communists. They -- look --
KARL: You do have some Democratic socialists.
OK, let me get to -- to on.
EMMER: Jon -- Jon, you just called them what they want you to call him. There’s nothing Democratic about socialism. For 100 years, they wanted us to call them progressives, when, in fact, they were socialists. And it wasn’t cool to admit you’re a socialist. They are now communists and Marxists. Take a look at the DSA platform.
KARL: OK, I -- I've -- I have. And we’ve talked about that. So --
EMMER: They want to defund the police. They want to defund prisons. They want government only health care. And they want the green new deal, which will cost every American family another $355,000. That’s what we should be talking about.
KARL: President Trump posted this week that the U.S., quote, “will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections.” Was that a relief to you, and is it -- is it appropriate for the president to be setting a timeline on attacks based on the electoral calendar?
EMMER: Look, what the Iran War -- Donald Trump took the action that no one else would take for 47 years. And he took it because they were on the cusp of having nuclear
capability, which could destroy not only their region, as they showed us, they've got ballistic missiles that can hit Western Europe. And if they can hit Western Europe, Jon, they can hit the homeland right here in the United States of America.
Donald Trump has taken the action that's necessary. And I wish people would actually confirm instead of trying to show that there's a question.
Their navy has been destroyed. Their air force has been destroyed. They are basically hollowed out. He has done everything that needs to be done.
And I expect it's going to be resolved soon. When that is, I don't know, but he'll make those decisions.
KARL: All right. Republican Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Republican of Minnesota -- thank you very much for joining us on “This Week”. Appreciate it.
EMMER: Thank you, Jon.
KARL: Up next, the roundtable analyzes the final push to the midterms as President Trump tries to defend deep red territory.
We're back in two minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I mean, it's amazing. When you stand up here, it's just like the love. I could say the stupidest things and you'd clap, you know, I love you so much. That’s true.
But we don't say the stupidest things. We say things of common sense. We say things that make sense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARL: All right. That was President Trump speaking at a midterm rally last night in deep red Tennessee.
I'll be right back with the roundtable in two minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KARL: And the Roundtable is here. Former DNC Chair, Donna Brazile; Puck News Capitol Hill Correspondent, Marianna Sotomayor; Washington Free Beacon Editor-in-Chief, Eliana Johnson; and former New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie.
All right, Donna, Democrats are really confident. Is there a risk that they're too confident?
DONNA BRAZILE, FORMER DNC CHAIR & ABC NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Well, first of all, I'm wearing red because I'm seeing more red districts go from being lean Republican to Tulsa. If you would have told me, Jon, in early September that I would be looking at South Carolina 1, Montana 1, Arkansas 2, Colorado 3.
Look, for the first time, Democrats are not just campaigning on each coast, Chris, and that's pretty good for us. We love the coast, but you know what? We're campaigning in the heartland. We're campaigning in Kansas. We're campaigning in Nebraska. So, no, we're not overconfident. We are fighting like hell.
And here's the thing that keeps me up at night, since last week George asked me this question and I've had a hard time sleeping ever since. He said, what's keeping you up, Donna? I said, you know what? I don't know, but guess what? I know now.
54 million Americans have requested their ballots, mail ballots, and only 2.5 million people have turned their ballots in. Get those doggone ballots in, or I'm going to come and knock on your door. It's going to be trick-or-treat early.
KARL: And you heard Tom Emmer say it's all -- the Democrats are a bunch of communists. But I was just out there, as you saw, with Adam Hamilton, Democrat in Kansas, lifelong Republican now Democrat. If you'd gone into a lab, Chris, and tried to design a Democratic candidate who could win in Kansas, it would be Pastor Adam Hamilton.
CHRIS CHRISTIE, (R) FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR & ABC NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Yeah, and let's remember something about Kansas. They haven't elected a Democrat to the Senate since the early 1930s, but they've elected Democratic governors.
KARL: Currently, now?
CHRISTIE: Yep, they have one now and they've had them before. But look, as a Republican, I sat here shaking my head at the political malpractice that was committed on this air with you by Tom Emmer.
Here is the Republican argument for the last three weeks. It's OK to sell, or to buy oil from a thug, KGB dictator in Russia that will use it to kill free Ukrainians. The American people don't get the fact that the economy is great and so when they have to pay all they have to pay at the grocery store and at the gas station, they just don't get it.
And, by the way, it's OK to livestream a murder by the United States government executing on the death penalty. Those are our three closing arguments to try to maintain our majorities in the House and Senate. This is malpractice.
And the fact, Tom is smarter than that, he knows better than that, but what you heard throughout it is this absolute requirement that you must stand by everything Donald Trump says and does if you want to remain in leadership in the House or the Senate. And it is malpractice to good Republicans all across this country who care about the issues we care about and then we have guys like Tom, who know better, on the air, on his knee in front of Donald Trump as he is saying things like he said in the lead-in here that he can say the stupidest things in the world and people will believe him. It's not true anymore.
KARL: Eliana, what are you hearing privately from Republicans? What are they bracing for?
ELIANA JOHNSON, WASHINGTON FREE BEACON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Well, I think it's absolutely true that Democrats are expanding the map. At the same time, there are seats that should be safe Democratic seats.
You know, a Republican Senator hasn't been elected in Michigan since 1996, Spencer Abraham. Mike Rogers has no business being competitive in that race right now. Why is he competitive? Because Democrats have a nominee in Abdul El-Sayed, who can't say that Israel is a lesser threat --
KARL: Than Iran.
JOHNSON: -- than the greatest sponsor of terror, Iran.
In Minnesota, where a cascade of taxpayer scandal has accrued on Lieutenant Governor,
Governor Peggy Flanagan's watch. So those races are now competitive. And I think that's what Republicans are focused on. And that would be a solid message for Republicans to be out there talking about.
KARL: Marianna, what are you hearing?
MARIANNA SOTOMAYOR, WASHINGTON POST CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Well, from Republicans, they are incredibly nervous. I mean, we have seen almost, since Labor Day. That was always the mark. And I even heard from Tom Emmer himself earlier this year that if the Iran war was still ongoing, if prices were still high, all of these different issues that are still happening, that would be a problem for Republicans.
And frankly, it is now becoming not a question of if the House will flip, but how big of a majority Democrats are likely to have. And on the Senate side, I mean, Eliana is right that there are some races --
KARL: New Hampshire, too.
SOTOMAYOR: Yes, exactly. Where voters are just so angry. And of course, they're blaming the White House. They're blaming Congress. But, you know, something that I think is worth watching is states that have been in Republican control for a long time, as well as Democratic control for a long time. Voters could also be rebuking those in office who have held power for a long time because of that voter anger.
So, as much as Democrats are trying to expand the map and look at different places, and they do have the momentum, and as you mentioned, some of these candidates behind them, there are some states where they should still pay attention, probably devote some money to before widening their eyes.
CHRISTIE: And Jon, can I -- can I help Donna about what you should be lying awake at night about? You should be lying awake about Abdul El-Sayed. You should be lying awake about Chris Pappas. You should be lying awake about Troy Jackson. These are awful candidates. Awful candidates in states where they should be winning. They should be winning in those states. And they're not.
And the reason they're not is because they have nominated these extreme left-wing candidates in the Democratic Party, who also have no record to speak of, or if they do have a record, it's a really bad one. And so you look at that, that's the stuff that should keep you up at night.
BRAZILE: Well, look --
CHRISTIE: Not the red states you'll flip.
BRAZILE: Look, Chris. Let me --
CHRISTIE: But the blue states that will flip the other way.
BRAZILE: I was up last night because LSU lost in overtime so let's be clear. OK?
CHRISTIE: You should be losing in Kentucky. You should be able to sleep for a week after that.
BRAZILE: Absolutely. But Georgia beat Alabama. That's another conversation. But, look, I'm not -- I'm going to sleep on the fact that in Michigan, there's no question that El-Sayed is making sure that the Democratic Party is unified and he's going to have to run the numbers on getting young people to vote.
I think in Maine, the same is true. Susan Collins is an -- is an institution in Maine. I don't feel -- I feel as though Mr. Jackson is going to have the closing momentum. And yes, I am excited about Texas. Mr. Talarico is back on the campaign trail. And in Alaska, Miss Peltola is doing a fantastic job in arguing the case.
But I want to correct Mr. Emmer. He also said gas prices was higher under Biden. When Mr. Trump came into office, a regular gallon of unleaded gasoline was $3.08 and a regular diesel, $3.90. So what Mr. Trump is doing in capitulating to Mr. Putin is not going to help farmers and ranchers across the country.
KARL: And by the way, there was a "New York Times" piece that caught my eye over the weekend. Could the Oregon governor's race -- Oregon. That's a pretty Democratic place, right? Be a Republican hope so --
CHRISTIE: Yes. Let me tell you, Christine Drazan is --
KARL: This is the Republican candidate for governor in Oregon.
CHRISTIE: Of Oregon. Now she ran four years ago. I campaigned with her four years ago in Oregon. And the Democrats played a trick that gets played in politics at times. They got an older, retiring Democratic female state senator to run as an independent. She's a moderate. She took 9 percent of the vote. Christine Drazan lost to Tina Kotek, the most incompetent governor in America, by three points.
Christine Drazan is smart. She's tough. She's articulate. And I think she's going to be the next governor of Oregon. And that's going to be a big surprise on election night to see the governorship of Oregon go red. But Tina Kotek has been so incompetent.
Eliana were talking about this, you know, the provision of homeless services in Oregon is a disgrace.
JOHNSON: Which is what Kotek ran on.
BRAZILE: She faced -- she faced headwinds. But you know what? We're going to see a Democratic night in our -- and also in Ohio.
CHRISTIE: Donna is skipping over Oregon.
BRAZILE: Well --
KARL: You know, if you're --
(CROSSTALK)
BRAZILE: Oregon is a challenge and she knows it.
KARL: If the Republicans are clinging to Oregon, that's going to be interesting.
BRAZILE: She's a good candidate.
JOHNSON: But this goes to Marianna's point about the revolt against incumbents. Oregon has had Democratic leadership for decades. And Kotek's approval rating is at Trump levels. It is at 37 percent. She ran on the provision of homeless services and homelessness is up in Oregon.
KARL: OK. So let me ask you.
(CROSSTALK)
KARL: Let me -- since we talked about the Democratic troubles, let me -- a couple Republican troubles, if you don't mind if we go back.
CHRISTIE: Sure.
KARL: You probably saw two key players in Trump's orbit, two key political players, Chris LaCivita, who helped run his campaign in 2024, James Blair, who until recently was his political director in the White House. They were in Serbia, working for a pro-Russian candidate, Republika Srpska, and the president had this reaction.
"Chris LaCivita and James Blair are outside consultants. They do not work for me, other than as outside consultants. I do not have any idea who else they work for, but will, on reflection, ask them, and if I have -- if there's a conflict, I will terminate them immediately."
What's going on with Chris LaCivita and James Blair?
CHRISTIE: They're making money. It's that simple.
(CROSSTALK)
KARL: It's just -- (Inaudible) the election. Why are they in?
CHRISTIE: Jon, because Donald Trump is a declining asset for them. Donald Trump, you're going to start to smell rotting flesh soon out of the White House from a political perspective, and they're -- they're getting as much money as they can off the table before he has completely declined to lame-duck them, right?
So this is what's going on, and you're going to see more and more of this over the next two years, that people are running away from Donald Trump, but staying just close enough to grab the money. And why are they doing that? Because that's the example that's being set at the top.
KARL: And are you surprised by that, to see them?
JOHNSON: I was a little surprised by it, but I have to say, I think this particular class of story gets a lot of oxygen in Washington, D.C. It's the kind of stuff we like to gossip about and has less traction kind of across -- like across the country and less a truck (ph) for voters.
BRAZILE: Yeah, (inaudible).
(CROSSTALK)
JOHNSON: So, I do think -- so I do think it underscores a broader concern among voters that this White House is sort of surrounded by scandal and corruption. And that's something that shows up in the polls. Most recently in a Reuters poll in August, voters are concerned about and Democrats are campaigning on it.
KARL: And very quickly, Marianna, we're almost out of time, but what are you hearing? What kind of reaction are you hearing to this idea of publicly livestreaming this execution?
CHRISTIE: Yeah.
SOTOMAYOR: I mean, there is bipartisan just discussed at the idea of doing this. We saw Congressman Austin Scott from Georgia very pointedly say that this is something that countries that have terrorism do. This is something that terrorists do. Why does the U.S. have any business doing this? I mean, the U.S. Catholic bishops have also condemned this.
There has just been a roundabout condemnation and just privately, too, from Republicans, total aghast by this possible decision.
KARL: And we'll see if it actually happens. Trump says it will be --
SOTOMAYOR: Correct.
KARL: -- his decision, ultimately, whether or not it goes forward.
OK, we will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KARL: All right. That's all for today. Thank you for sharing part of your Sunday with us. Check out "World News Tonight" and have a great day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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