EXCLUSIVE — Republican Rep. Mike Collins offered a behind-the-scenes look at his latest conversation with President Donald Trump and detailed his role in preparing Georgia’s infrastructure for a multibillion-dollar manufacturing investment during an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital on Tuesday, exactly one week before voters decide one of the nation’s closely watched Senate contests.
Collins, a trucking company owner challenging Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff, said he spoke privately with Trump following Saturday’s rally in Perry, Georgia, where the president announced a $4.2 billion investment by German automaker Audi.
The Georgia congressman described a president eager to hear feedback from those around him and said he personally relayed what he had observed while meeting rallygoers.
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“He always wants to know what you think. He wants to know what everybody thinks,” Collins told Fox News Digital. “And I think that’s just part of his personality.”
Collins said he made a point of asking attendees whether they had ever been to a Trump rally before.
“Well over half of the people that were at that event, it was their first time ever attending a Trump rally,” Collins said, describing his own conversations with supporters.
The Republican also revealed that Trump helped amplify a new digital advertisement from his Senate campaign focused on the Laken Riley Act, legislation Collins championed in Congress.
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“When he saw the ad, he retweeted it out there and of course, it has exploded with over 7 million views,” Collins said.
The president’s involvement comes as Collins seeks to unseat Ossoff in the final days before the Nov. 3 election.
Collins also elaborated on his involvement in improvements to the Port of Brunswick, which he credits with helping position Georgia to attract Audi’s newly announced manufacturing investment.
Trump announced Saturday that Audi would invest $4.2 billion in a new facility in the Macon area, with plans to manufacture approximately 200,000 vehicles annually.
Collins said that after becoming chairman of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee in 2025, he made the Port of Brunswick one of his first priorities.
“Got down there and, lo and behold, that thing has not been fully dredged in over 10 years,” Collins said. “Took me about three months, got the money, got it dredged. Now it is fully dredged.”
According to Collins, insufficient channel depth had limited what cargo vessels could transport through the port. He argued that improving the port’s capacity helped make Georgia more attractive to automakers looking to manufacture and export vehicles.
“One of the reasons that they picked Georgia was because that port is ready to go down there,” Collins said.
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The Audi announcement has become a point of contention in the Senate campaign. Ossoff has called for more details about the project, while Collins has pointed to his work on port infrastructure as evidence of his economic development record.
The interview also turned personal when Collins was asked about reports concerning Ossoff’s campaign spending on a Hollywood makeup artist.
The Washington Times reported Sept. 26 that Ossoff’s campaign had spent nearly $3,000 on hair and makeup during the election cycle, more than any other Senate candidate at the time. The outlet cited Federal Election Commission records showing payments to Georgia makeup artist Stephanie Ponder.
Asked whether he personally wears makeup on the campaign trail, Collins responded with a joke.
“The answer is no, I don’t use makeup,” Collins said. “Some people might want to suggest I put a bag over my head.”
Collins then said political advisors had deliberately changed how Ossoff looks and speaks.
“I can’t help it that they hired Pee-wee Herman’s makeup artist,” Collins said.
The comments followed Trump’s own references to the fictional character while criticizing Ossoff at Saturday’s rally.
Collins also claimed that Ossoff is positioning himself for a potential 2028 presidential campaign, an allegation he framed as his own interpretation of the senator’s voting record, endorsements and fundraising.
Ossoff has campaigned on his work in the Senate, including healthcare, affordability and economic issues, while criticizing Collins’ support for Trump’s policies.
When asked whether he disagrees with Trump on any issue, Collins pointed to the timing of a potential change involving off-road diesel fuel.
“Probably the only thing I would have, I would have jumped on the off-road diesel quicker to run in trucks,” Collins said.
The trucking company owner argued that allowing additional diesel supplies into the transportation market sooner could help reduce prices.
He also predicted that consumers would see lower fuel prices following the election.
“You’re gonna see prices come down. It’s amazing what Election Day is gonna do,” Collins said.
The prediction comes as rising energy costs remain a major issue in the Senate race.
Collins defended Trump’s broader economic agenda, arguing that lower taxes, deregulation and domestic manufacturing investment would help households struggling with everyday expenses.
Ossoff, meanwhile, has criticized Trump’s tariffs and the economic effects of the war with Iran, arguing that administration policies have contributed to higher costs for Georgia families.
Collins ended the exclusive interview with a confident declaration about the approaching election.
“I’m gonna win this race next week. I’m gonna be your next U.S. senator from Georgia,” Collins said.
He added that he would move his work from the House to the Senate while continuing to focus on affordability and economic development.
“We’re gonna just pick up that old desk, move it across the rotunda, and continue to deliver,” Collins said.
The election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, with early voting in Georgia continuing through Friday, Oct. 30.
The Ossoff campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
