Donald Trump appeared on Lex Friedman’s podcast on Tuesday as the previous president slowly got here to grasp that on-line media is significant to reaching folks in 2024. Whereas it isn’t Trump’s first podcast, it is one in every of his greatest — together with the tech-focused All-In podcast, which Trump appeared on. again in JuneEffectively, one of many greatest till Joe Rogan probably invitations Trump, which he talked about with Friedman.
Friedamn requested Trump about psychedelic medication, the battle in Ukraine, and any secret alien information that may ever be launched. Trump additionally stated that he likes to publish on Reality Social anytime, however that he will get criticized when he posts after 3 a.m. ET. The previous president usually posts notably loopy issues in the midst of the night time on his social media platform.
“Trump was telling the reality at 3 a.m.,” Trump stated on the podcast, mimicking the best way he thinks reporters speak. “And there shouldn’t be any drawback with that. When they consider time zones, how do they know, like, what time zone is, like, Japanese Time?”
Trump was clearly very confused and misspoke a number of instances, together with when he talked about showing on “The Reply” with Rosie O’Donnell, referring to the daytime speak present “The View.” The previous president additionally ranted that Joe Biden “thinks he appears to be like good in a washing swimsuit when he does not.”
Probably the most awkward moments throughout Trump’s comparatively quick 45-minute dialog (most of Friedman’s interviews final a number of hours) was a query concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and any information Trump may launch if he had been to change into president once more.
“Um, he was a great salesman. He was, you already know, a pleasant, heat man,” whereas suggesting that he may launch information on Epstein.
The truth is, Epstein was one in every of Trump’s buddies, and there is one thing extremely creepy about that. video these two dancing with their lecherous appears to be like within the Nineties. So Trump is clearly mendacity about releasing any information the US authorities might need frozen on this man.
Friedman continued to insist that he was an unbiased, however he did his greatest to normalize Trump as one other politician for whom bizarre folks might vote in good conscience. Friedman referred to as Trump a “nice dealmaker” and at one level even gave the impression to be a political strategist for Trump, telling the previous president, “You’re at your greatest if you’re speaking a few optimistic imaginative and prescient for the longer term.” Trump has no optimistic imaginative and prescient for the longer term, for what it’s value.
And that is truly probably the most harmful factor of interviews like these. At the least when Trump seems on Fox Information or some loopy right-wing podcast, the viewers is already comprised solely of Trump-voting folks. However Friedman is a bit completely different. His chats can attraction to apolitical folks, and there are most likely loads of listeners who do not care a lot about politics who will take this as an endorsement of Trump as a standard individual.
Trump just isn’t regular. He’s a wannabe fascist and convicted rapist whose darkish imaginative and prescient for the nation contains breaking apart households, denying girls well being care, and actually execute folks who, in his opinion, betrayed him. And apparently none of this was talked about by Friedman, a horrible interviewer who completed nothing greater than carrying water for a harmful man.
The podcast is accessible at YouTubehowever should you do not wish to watch the entire thing, now we have a listing beneath that summarizes all the things.
- Trump has talked about new types of media past tv, issuing good strains like, “The entire stage of platforms is altering dramatically.”
- Friedman requested Trump what particularly he would do to barter an finish to the battle in Ukraine. Trump gave his regular nonsense about ending the battle with Russia, however was reluctant to disclose an excessive amount of, saying, “I can’t offer you these plans.”
- Trump complained that Harris had a “mushy” interview with Harris, which is humorous to complain in the midst of a “mushy” interview with Friedman.
- Trump stated there was a “excessive chance” of World Conflict III.
- Trump referred to as Joe Biden’s substitute on the ticket a “coup” and repeatedly stumbled over his declare that Biden was mentally unwell.
- Trump falsely claimed the 2024 election was a “fraud.”
- Trump falsely claimed that unlawful immigrants vote in elections.
- Trump falsely claims different international locations are transport their psychological well being amenities to the US
- Trump referred to as the try on his life “an disagreeable expertise.”
- Friedman requested Trump about Undertaking 2025, and the previous president stated he had not learn the 900-page coverage doc. Trump tried to distance himself from the plan however acknowledged that there have been “some issues I like” in it.
- Trump stated he agreed with the legalization of medical marijuana, however made it clear he didn’t like leisure marijuana.
- Friedman advised Trump that he had not too long ago tried ayahuasca and stated that the religious advantages might assist members of Congress in the event that they used it. Trump simply appeared very confused throughout that a part of the interview.
- Trump stated of Joe Rogan’s podcast: “I feel I might do it, however they have not requested me to, and I am not asking them to.”
- Trump acknowledged that his “reposts” on Reality Social might get him into hassle, with out realizing that his common posts are simply as fascist and deranged. “I name it my typewriter,” Trump stated of his Reality Social posts.
- Trump additionally denied calling the lifeless troopers “suckers and losers.”
- Trump has spewed a variety of lies about Kamala Harris, together with conspiracy theories that she is a secret communist.
- Trump stated he must “combat fireplace with fireplace” when folks assault him.
- Trump has repeatedly praised authoritarian leaders, together with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
- Trump falsely claimed that NATO wouldn’t exist with out him.
- Trump stated he has obtained extra publicity than “anybody who has ever lived.”
- Trump stated: “Ideally, it is best to go to heaven, not hell. However it is best to go to heaven should you’re good.”
- Trump additionally denied violating federal legislation when he used Arlington Nationwide Cemetery as a backdrop for his speech. promoting video for the marketing campaign.
- In one of many few direct moments of the interview, Friedman stated Trump was “a bit confused” by the discharge of a number of the Epstein paperwork. Trump responded that he didn’t suppose he had any doubts and insisted that “I had nothing to do with it.”
In all probability the funniest line of the interview was Trump saying, “I am not speaking concerning the previous, I am speaking concerning the future,” which is fairly hilarious. All this man talks about is the previous and the way he was screwed in 2020. However Trump’s rhetoric basically just isn’t humorous. It is a risk to US safety if this man will get again in energy.
At one level within the interview, Trump stated he was “main within the polls,” however he’s truly struggling now that Kamala Harris has entered the race. Harris has a stable lead in nationwide polls, in addition to a slight lead in most swing states, in keeping with a number of completely different pollsters.
At present, the FiveThirtyEight nationwide polling common exhibits Harris up 3.2 factors. However nobody is aware of for positive what’s going to occur till folks go to the polls in November. And whereas it’s unclear whether or not Friedman will vote for Trump, it nearly doesn’t matter. The podcaster has already helped Trump with this interview greater than a single vote ever might.