President Donald Trump warded off protestors and delivered a meandering speech about his first-year back in office while attempting to turn around a spiraling narrative about his presidency.
The 79-year-old president traveled to Clive, Iowa, to address a crowd mostly comprised of his loyalists.
About 30 minutes into a speech that touched on clean energy standards, ethanol, tariff-enabled funding for farmers and 401(k) savings accounts, the president was interrupted by what he called ‘paid insurrectionists.’
The rabble-rousers interrupted the president while Trump was bragging about the state of the economy.
‘After years of the United States getting ripped off by other countries on trade. I’m standing up for the workers and the farmers of our country like no other president has ever no other president has done this,’ Trump said.
Then the protestors’ screaming broke out – and the president immediately addressed it: ‘I could have an easy presidency.’
‘I’d probably have this little piece of ear back,’ he said, referencing the body part hit by Thomas Matthew Crooks’ gunfire in Butler, Pennsylvania.
‘I wouldn’t have to listen to lunatics like this up there. I wouldn’t have to listen,’ the president added, noting law enforcement’s rapid response to the outbreak, which died down as swiftly as it cropped up.
President Trump was heckled multiple times during his speech on the economy in Clive, Iowa, on Tuesday evening. The president hit back at the protestors, labeling them ‘lunatics’ and ‘sickos’
Attendees listen to US President Donald Trump deliver remarks on the economy in Clive, Iowa, on January 27, 2026
‘They’re paid. They get paid. These are all paid agitators,’ Trump said. ‘They’re paid insurrectionists … They’re sickos’
The crowd began pushing back against the agitator.
Chants of ‘USA, USA, USA,’ rang out.
‘Under sleepy Joe, we had the largest trade deficit in world history,’ the Republican immediately continued in his signature ‘weave’ returning to one of his favorite foils: Joe Biden.
Another demonstration broke out minutes later. The president lashed out again.
‘They’re paid. They get paid. These are all paid agitators. That’s all they are.’
‘They’re paid insurrectionists,’ the Republican continued. ‘They’re sickos.’
Again, the president pivoted back to the economy, which has consistently been a drag on his poll numbers and approval.
In fact, the latest Daily Mail/JR Partners poll conducted this week found that inflation and the economy are the top concerns for American voters.
Going into the midterms later this year, Trump and his team have increased their messaging that Biden’s economy is being turned around by this administration.
Trump claimed in his remarks that the stock market hit 52 all-time highs and that $9 trillion has been added to Americans’ retirement and 401(k) accounts.
While the stock market did achieve numerous record highs in 2025 despite significant volatility, the $9 trillion is likely an exaggerated account of retirement account growth.
