President Trump's First 60 Minutes Interview in Five Years: A Mixed Bag
In a rare sit-down interview with CBS News' Norah O'Donnell, President Trump placed blame on Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown and defended his decision to strike alleged drug trafficking boats. The conversation also touched on his immigration crackdown, indictments of several prominent critics, and his views on China, Russia, Israel, and more.
On the government shutdown, which has now surpassed a month, Trump blamed the Democrats, stating that Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, while Democrats keep blocking efforts to reopen the government. He also referred to Senate Democrats as "crazed lunatics" who have "lost their way." Trump's plan to end the shutdown, he said, is to "keep voting."
When asked about his tariffs, which have contributed to record-high stock market gains, Trump attributed the success to his economic plan, saying that the tariffs have led to a rise in 401(k) values. However, this week, the Supreme Court will hear arguments about whether Trump has the authority to impose sweeping tariffs without congressional approval.
Trump also discussed ICE raids, which he said haven't gone far enough. He defended the tactics being used by ICE agents but acknowledged that some immigrants targeted were not violent criminals. "We have to start off with a policy," Trump said, "and the policy has to be: if you came into this country illegally, you're going out."
Regarding his decision to use the Insurrection Act to deploy troops in U.S. cities if needed, Trump stated that he would do so "in a heartbeat" but added that he hasn't chosen to use it yet.
Trump also addressed indictments of several prominent critics, including former FBI Director James Comey, former national security adviser John Bolton, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. He maintained that his administration didn't instruct the Department of Justice to target them, as they were "dirty" and "crooked."
On nuclear weapons testing, Trump directed the Pentagon to resume testing on an equal basis with other countries. He pointed to North Korea, Russia, and China as examples.
When asked about a hypothetical run for a third term in 2028, Trump pivoted to praising his Cabinet members, saying that he doesn't even think about it but has an "unbelievable bench" of potential candidates.
Trump also pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty to a money laundering-related charge. He claimed not to know the founder's name and attributed the pardon to a "Biden witch hunt."
The interview also touched on Trump's meeting with China's President Xi Jinping, where they struck a one-year trade deal that eases tensions between the two countries. Trump acknowledged that Taiwan is a flashpoint in U.S.-China relations but declined to comment further.
In other topics, Trump stated that the Gaza ceasefire is "not fragile" despite recent accusations from Israel and Hamas of violating terms. He also pointed to his success in ending international conflicts since returning to office by using tariffs as leverage.
Finally, Trump discussed the escalating tensions with Venezuela, saying he doubts the U.S. will go to war but believes they've been treated "very badly."
The interview provided a glimpse into Trump's views on various issues and policies, showcasing both his confidence and conviction in his decisions.
In a rare sit-down interview with CBS News' Norah O'Donnell, President Trump placed blame on Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown and defended his decision to strike alleged drug trafficking boats. The conversation also touched on his immigration crackdown, indictments of several prominent critics, and his views on China, Russia, Israel, and more.
On the government shutdown, which has now surpassed a month, Trump blamed the Democrats, stating that Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, while Democrats keep blocking efforts to reopen the government. He also referred to Senate Democrats as "crazed lunatics" who have "lost their way." Trump's plan to end the shutdown, he said, is to "keep voting."
When asked about his tariffs, which have contributed to record-high stock market gains, Trump attributed the success to his economic plan, saying that the tariffs have led to a rise in 401(k) values. However, this week, the Supreme Court will hear arguments about whether Trump has the authority to impose sweeping tariffs without congressional approval.
Trump also discussed ICE raids, which he said haven't gone far enough. He defended the tactics being used by ICE agents but acknowledged that some immigrants targeted were not violent criminals. "We have to start off with a policy," Trump said, "and the policy has to be: if you came into this country illegally, you're going out."
Regarding his decision to use the Insurrection Act to deploy troops in U.S. cities if needed, Trump stated that he would do so "in a heartbeat" but added that he hasn't chosen to use it yet.
Trump also addressed indictments of several prominent critics, including former FBI Director James Comey, former national security adviser John Bolton, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. He maintained that his administration didn't instruct the Department of Justice to target them, as they were "dirty" and "crooked."
On nuclear weapons testing, Trump directed the Pentagon to resume testing on an equal basis with other countries. He pointed to North Korea, Russia, and China as examples.
When asked about a hypothetical run for a third term in 2028, Trump pivoted to praising his Cabinet members, saying that he doesn't even think about it but has an "unbelievable bench" of potential candidates.
Trump also pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty to a money laundering-related charge. He claimed not to know the founder's name and attributed the pardon to a "Biden witch hunt."
The interview also touched on Trump's meeting with China's President Xi Jinping, where they struck a one-year trade deal that eases tensions between the two countries. Trump acknowledged that Taiwan is a flashpoint in U.S.-China relations but declined to comment further.
In other topics, Trump stated that the Gaza ceasefire is "not fragile" despite recent accusations from Israel and Hamas of violating terms. He also pointed to his success in ending international conflicts since returning to office by using tariffs as leverage.
Finally, Trump discussed the escalating tensions with Venezuela, saying he doubts the U.S. will go to war but believes they've been treated "very badly."
The interview provided a glimpse into Trump's views on various issues and policies, showcasing both his confidence and conviction in his decisions.
another 60 minutes interview with trump 
and honestly its mixed bag 
i mean the guy is still blaming democrats for everything 
but at least he admitted that republicans r voting to end shutdown 
although "crazed lunatics" 
sounds like a pretty weak excuse 
the supreme court gotta call him out for this one
is not okay and trump's justifying it as "starting with a policy" 
i dont think so 
that sounds like fascism to me 
gotta call him out for this too 
. This interview was more like a scripted PR stunt than a serious conversation 
.
. It's not that simple. The fact that the Supreme Court is hearing arguments about whether he has the authority to impose sweeping tariffs without congressional approval is a major red flag 
.
. And using the Insurrection Act to deploy troops in US cities if needed? Total overreach 
. I mean, come on, Trump doesn't even know the guy's name? That's some weird stuff 
I'm telling ya, this interview was all about manipulating public opinion 
. The whole thing felt rehearsed, like they were trying to keep him in line while still making it look like he's talking from the heart 
but there's this big controversy about whether he has the power to impose them without Congress' approval 
it's like, dude, can we talk about something else? 
He's still spouting the same old nonsense 
. And on tariffs... yeah, it's all about the economy, right? 
. But at the same time, it's kinda shady that he's blaming Democrats for the government shutdown without taking responsibility himself 
.
... It seems like Trump is trying to make them "start off with a policy" but what if that policy is unjust? 
I gotta say, that sit-down interview was quite revealing. I mean, it's clear he's got some strong opinions, even if they aren't always shared by the rest of us 
. On another note, I'm not sure I buy all that talk about tariffs leading to record-high stock market gains... sounds like some pretty convenient math if you ask me 
like calling out Senate Democrats as "crazed lunatics" 
. I'm not sure how much more of this I can take 
. And don't even get me started on the ICE raids 
.
. He knows exactly what buttons to press and when to push them 
. And let's be real, he's still got that crazy loyal base 
. So maybe all this controversy is just part of his game plan 
Trump's latest sit-down interview was pretty mixed bag for me. On one hand, it showed how confident he is in his policies and decisions, which I guess can be inspiring to some people 
. And what's with all the pardons? Changpeng Zhao, who was found guilty of money laundering, gets a pardon from Trump? That doesn't sit well with me at all 
. We need more civil discourse and less name-calling and blame-shifting 
.
. But I'm not convinced that deploying troops in U.S. cities is the right solution 
. But sometimes I wish he'd take a step back and think things through before making a decision 
.
. It's like he's trying to convince us that his way is the best way 
. I mean, Trump's view of the Democrats as "crazed lunatics" is a clear example of how our own biases and perspectives can color our understanding of the world 
. That way, you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions and have more nuanced conversations with others 
... like that's gonna solve anything. And what's with the crazed lunatics comment? Really? It's just a shutdown, people are suffering... 401(k) values rising thanks to tariffs, sure, but who benefits from that in real life? 
.