US President Donald Trump has joked that his supporters would applaud even if he said “the stupidest things,” before arguing that his political message is built around common sense.

Addressing a cheering crowd at an election rally, Trump said he felt a strong connection with his supporters and believed they would continue backing him even if he made foolish remarks.

“I could say the stupidest things and you clap,” he told the audience.

Trump then pushed back against that suggestion, saying he did not consider his message stupid and instead believed it reflected practical priorities shared by many Americans.

“But we don’t say the stupidest things. We say things of common sense. We say things that make sense,” he said.

He pointed to border security, lower taxes and a strong military as examples of policies he considers common sense.

“If things have common sense, we want to have a border. We want to have low taxes. We want to have a great military,” Trump said, before referring to other priorities he believes fit the same approach.

The exchange drew laughter and applause from the crowd, including after Trump suggested that supporters would clap even for his most foolish statements.

His remarks offered a glimpse into the relationship he has cultivated with his political base, while reinforcing his argument that his positions on immigration, taxation and national security are practical rather than merely ideological.

Trump’s comments also highlighted the distinction he drew between conservative politics as a label and what he described as policies that simply make sense.