Extended Interview: President Trump on 60 Minutes

Mr. President, thank you so much for. doing this. >> We're going to start with the midterms. Two years ago, you won a big, some might. say historic victory. Just now, the. Republican party in the midterms s. suffered a big, some might say historic. defeat. Give me your political analysis. of what just happened. Well, number one, I was not on the ballot, but I. campaigned hard for some people. And I. think if I was on the ballot, it would. have been a much different situation.

because you saw the level of popularity. and love. There was love. We had massive. rallies. Nobody's ever seen rallies like. that for midterms. And there wasn't one. room that didn't have thousands of. people outside. Couldn't get in. So, uh, you had to transfer those voters, however, to candidates that they didn't. like. But there's something beyond that. They didn't like the war. They didn't. like the fact that gasoline went up. because I had it down at a low in Iowa.

It was 185 cents a gallon. 85 a gallon. And uh when you look at 185 and you go. up to three and a half$4 dollars, still. lower than Biden, lower than Obama, but. the war was blamed for that and they. didn't like the war. I think mostly for. that reason because I think everyone. agrees that Iran cannot have a nuclear. weapon and they will never have a. nuclear weapon. They won't have that. But uh and there's a a great dislike.

incredibly for Israel. There seems to be. a dislike for Israel. So you have that, you have the war itself, you have the. gas prices and I think those are the. primary reasons and you know MAGA and I. always I want to keep out of wars. I've. settled eight wars. I settled eight. wars. I mean India Pakistan would have. been a nuclear war. I got it settled. before it got going. They had 11 planes. shot down. They were ready to go. The. prime minister of Pakistan said Trump.

saved 30 to 50 million lives. I settled. a lot of wars. So let's. >> let's go through let's go through those. then one by one start start with the. candidates right you said it was tough. to transfer your own appeal to. candidates. >> but in a lot of cases you picked the. candidates you picked you endorsed Ken. Paxton. >> in Texas he had a tough time you. endorsed Darlene Graham in South. Carolina would have lost also Darlene I. did that in uh honor of a man named.

Lindsay who was a friend of mine good. politician good guy a very good Okay. And she fought hard. She fought hard. She really did. She. >> She But she lost a very Republican. state. Oh, to a very liberal. >> I won South Carolina by the highest vote. in history by far. I won Texas by the. highest vote in history by far. I won. Florida, who, by the way, I did endorse, and he's going to be a great governor. and a great senator. I endorsed both of. them. And had I not endorsed him, they.

wouldn't have won because there was a. wave. Uh, you know, I also brought a lot. of people to a lot closer to victory. If. you look at Ohio, uh, he was John, you. said, who was a good guy, but he was 15. down. He ended up losing by a point, maybe less than a point. It was he. almost won, but uh, I don't make excuses. for that. I won Ohio by the most votes. in history, too. You're only talking. >> Why couldn't it I just Why can't it. transfer? You You were out on the trail. and you said, you said, "Vote like I'm. on the ballot and people didn't." or or.

did they did they vote because they were. mad at you about. >> I think they didn't vote really. I think. they didn't vote. I think in some cases. they didn't like the candidates and. that's you know their prerogative. Look, three times they've not necessarily. listened to me. The uh two other times I. didn't go as much out as I did this. time. I went all out. I did I think 30. rallies in like 28 days or something and. they were massive rallies and they were. very good.

and they loved me. I mean, you saw the. the it was like unbelievable. But. >> there's no there's no question that part. of the country loves you. But as you. said, there's another part of the. country I think that just by your own. description, right, was unhappy with the. war in Iran, >> unhappy with the economy. Talk about the. economy for a moment. You handed me the. jobs numbers that just came out a couple. days after the election. >> They're very good job numbers. Low. unemployment rate. That's been true. throughout your second term. But in poll.

after poll, people say they're unhappy. with this economy in a way they weren't. in the first term. Cost of living, inflation, and so on. Is that all just. the Iran war, or are there other things. that haven't been fixed? >> Well, it's not really the Iran war. because the numbers are phenomenal. The. numbers that we have are historically. good numbers. I think it was bad. messaging. Maybe by me, but I would talk. about it all the time, so I don't know. how much can I talk about it. >> Look, the press doesn't cover it. Americans are. >> the press doesn't cover positive news.

for Republicans. They don't cover. certainly positive news for me. So I. have to do it myself. I have to get it. out there. One of the reasons I did. rallies was to do that. But I would talk. about how good we have historically good. numbers. We have the highest stock. market in history. Now we lost yesterday. because of the election $3 trillion. The. market lost almost 2,000 points because. of the Democrats. They got in and the. world said I don't want to invest with.

these people because they look what. happened in France. They look what. happened in Italy and all over the world. and they say this is the same ideology. but we have had let's go be the day. before yesterday right before uh where. the election you know and we're talking. about now a day before the election we. picked up $25 trillion in worth in the. worth of our in value. Nobody's ever. done that before. >> But why don't Americans feel it then?

>> They don't. >> Why? Why don't they? Because they're. obviously like you in the press, you and. the media, >> you and our business have been in. tension throughout your career. >> Correct. >> But you still won elections, >> right? So why couldn't you win this? >> I think it was bad messaging. Um, >> what was the bad message? >> We couldn't get the word across. Look, you just seen job numbers that came out. the day after the election, right? Too. bad they didn't come out the day before. the election, but they came out and the. numbers are way beyond anybody's. expectations by by over 125 130,000. We.

had 165,000 jobs just in a short period. of time. >> Notice this in like they're when you. look at polls, they're upset about their. every. >> I think they're going to notice it in. the next. >> two, three, four months. Okay, >> now tariffs. Let me just explain. So, we. have trillions of dollars right now. being built in factories and everything. else. That's why these numbers, the. construction numbers, the job numbers. are through the roof. If I, you know, I. listen to these people and I'm really.

good at money and finance is probably. maybe my best thing. Although I was very. good on the border, too. I was good in a. lot of things. But. >> in terms of that, you take a look at the. kind of numbers that we're doing. We're. doing numbers that have never been done. before. 401ks are at their all-time high by a. lot. Under other presidents, they were a. disaster. 401ks. have made people rich. And for some. reason, remember during rallies that. say, "Please look at your 401k before.

you go to vote." Maybe. >> I mean, not everyone has a big 401k. It's wages. It's gas prices. Let's say who has a 401k and almost half. the room. >> Lots of people have them. Let's let's on. gas prices in Iran. You know, >> couple days ago, your vice president JD. Vance wrote a social media post where he. says, "The reason we lost is the war,". meaning Iran, and he said things in that. post about Israel. Yeah. So, do you. agree? You agree with his analysis? >> I don't disagree with it. Did you know. he was one thing? Did you first did you.

know he was going to write that post? >> Uh, he told he asked me, "What do I. think?" I said, "You write what you I. said, >> write what you write what you feel." By. the way, what are you going to write? Okay. So, but he said the one thing he. left out. >> is that I would say and maybe he. wouldn't say it. I don't know. I never. asked him really. But, uh, if you had it. to do again, would you do it? And that's. Iran. Would you go and attack Iran and. take away their because we won that war.

That war has been won. Uh, now they're. withering away as a country. And they'll. come and they'll make a deal. They'll. definitely they want to make a deal. We. by the way just before we get they. wanted to make a deal just before the. election and that gives them a little. bit of a hope certificate now but we. were close to making a deal if we didn't. have this election we might have even. had or within the next few days we would. have had a deal but this gives some hope. let's go with that. >> but I just mean no before I. >> the only thing I wish he would have said. there.

>> if he felt it and you'd have to ask him. about that but if you had it to do again. would you do it you know he was part of. a decision-making process. And my answer is an emphatic yes because. you can't let Iran have a nuclear. weapon. I think historically this will. be a very good decision. Is it a good. decision for today and tomorrow? Maybe. not. But I would, you know, I have to go. with what's right for our country. If. they had a nuclear weapon, you and I. would not be speaking the way Oh, then. I'd really be excoriated. If they had a. nuclear weapon during my term, I would.

be excoriated. Far worse than what's. happened. let's but I've stopped them from having. a nuclear weapon. That's a big thing. And they were ready to make a deal with. me. We would have had a deal except for. this election. And we'll make a deal. anyway because. >> they'll get over there. >> So, you're not going to escalate the war. now that the midterms? >> I'm not looking to I don't think there's. any reason to. I don't think there's any. reason to. Look, >> they still have they still have nuclear. they still have nuclear material. They. have they have nothing. It's buried.

under thousands of tons of rock and we. have uh through space force which I. created. We have uh we have telescopic. lenses that are unbelievable. I can I. can tell the color of the red dots on. your tie and we watch every one of those. sites. The three that we blew up and. also Pickax Pickax Mountain. >> So there's still stuff in Pickax. Mountain. >> Well, we don't know that there wasn't. There's been very little activity there.

They have other problems. They're not. looking at pickaxe mountain. But what. does if we needed to do pickax? If we. needed to do pickaxe, we'll watch it. If. we needed to do pickaxe, which we don't. at this moment, we would have that done. in one hour. It would be taken care of. >> So, what's the deal in the end with them. that gets that gets the straight open. because it's important. It's important. to. >> the straight is open. >> The straight has traffic moving through. it because the US military is sitting. there sitting there. Your favorite.

newspaper, the Wall Street Journal, two days ago had an article that said. there is more oil going through the. Hormones Strait than there was at the. beginning of the war. Think of that. We. have ships going, >> but the ships that are going through are. being babysat by a large US military. presence. So, how do we make a deal that. gets that gets that presence out of. there? >> Not very expensive. >> We can just leave them there. end of. this whole thing, those countries that. we've protected are going to pay us back. any and all costs that we've had for the.

war. We're going to get all that money. back. And I've told them and they're. going to do it 100%. Because without us, they wouldn't exist. Without us, Israel. wouldn't exist. Let me tell you, >> Israel, tell me. Tell me about. >> Israel would not exist except for Donald. Trump because we went in with those. beautiful B2 bombers more than a year. ago and we hit the three sites at at the. time. You know, I call it nuclear dust. They were loaded up with nuclear dust. They were two weeks away from having a.

nuclear weapon. And if I didn't hit. them, and it was an incredible rate, and. people said, "Oh, well, maybe the hit.". It turned out to be when Atomic Energy. went in and they said it was the most. accurate imaginable. I mean, they were. totally destroyed. >> You to you you say you have no regrets. about that decision. Do you have any. regrets on on but on Israel? Do you have. regrets about the decision to help the. Israelis do decapitation strikes on Iran. because that changed the Iranian regime. and it seems like it made them escalate.

You could have just kept hitting the new. the nuclear facilities, right? >> Yeah, you could have done that, but we. had people that would would have gone. further. Look, uh this I want to have it. for the long term, not for the short. term. We decapitated their nuclear. arsenal. If I didn't do that, there. would be no Israel right now. Israel. would be gone. In my look, I deal with. these people. I deal with a lot of. people and that's what I've done my. whole life. I make deals and obviously I. make good deals because I bec I made a. lot of money and I became president. Bill, you know, that's a deal too. I.

became president of the United States. A. lot of smart politicians thought, "Oh, gee, this should be easy." But it wasn't. easy for them. I became president. Wasn't easy. >> I became president easily. So that's. what I do. I deal with the Iranians. they would use a nuclear weapon in 24. hours just like the Democrats will. terminate the filibuster immediately. And I'm trying to get that knowledge. imparted into the Republican Senate. But. the Democrats will immediately or as.

soon as they have the right opportunity, they will terminate the filibuster and. do things to our country that are very. very big. >> I'm I'm trying to weave with through. this. So let's let's do the weave and. talk about the Democrats. Thank you. >> You came out after the midterms. You. congratulated the Democrats. You said. that you were open to working with them. >> True. >> What is one thing you would like to work. with a Democratic majority on? >> I'd love to do something on immigration. >> What? >> Because Well, so. >> do you think immigration hurt you in the.

midterms? >> Do you think the crackdown hurt? >> I think it both helped and hurt. I think. I got an A+ for closing up the border. because we had 25 million people come in. through Biden over a 4-year period and. many of those people were, as you know, they were from prisons, they were drug. dealers, they were from mental. institutions, they were from all over. the world, not just South America. >> And some of them, some of them, as you. once said, are good people. >> No, I I said that Yeah, some are good. and some are really bad. Just clarify,

>> you had 11,888. murderers, most of whom more than half. of whom committed more than one murder. They were allowed into our country. We've gotten most of them out. >> So the so closing. and I think you would agree that I get. an A+ for that. I get an A+ for closing. Nobody in the last 17 months just came. out. Zero people came in through our. southern border as opposed to 25 million. people. 25 million people. They came in. through caravans. Nobody ever saw.

anything like it. Okay. For getting. people out. I get very high marks for. getting the bad ones out. But I get hurt. because we also took people that had. good jobs that that created one. violation or breaking of the law. That. was that they came into the country. illegally. Now, there is a large part of. the country that think that they should. be put out and there's a large part of. the country that think that they should. be allowed to stay if they're good. people working in a landscaping company. or working in a hotel or doing.

something, right? And in some cases. paying taxes. >> and there's a large group of people. think that they should be allowed to. stay. So, uh, >> so, so you think your deportation policy. went far? It was too tough. >> I think it might be too tough. Yeah. And. a lot of people would say that it's. great, but a lot of people think it's. too tough. >> What would happen? What does the deal. look like? >> I think ultimately that hurt me. I think. it Well, the deal would be we would work. something out. And I think it's.

something I think that's something. that's actually doable. But a lot of. people uh. >> doable to create some kind of some kind. of legal status [clears throat]. for the landscapers. >> Yeah. When you go into a hotel and you. say, "Let me see your pass." And you. have a woman that's worked there as a, you know, as a maid, as a cleaner, as a. this, as a that, as a waitress. A lot of. good things. Great jobs. And all of a. sudden, they're being taken out of the. country. It's tough. It's a tough thing. Also, 25 million people came in through.

That's a lot of people to take out, but. there's a group of people that I would. say on the sort of pretty far right that. would like everybody taken out. And. there's a group of people. Do any of. those people work in your. administration? Are they in the building. with us right now? >> No. No. Well, there are a lot of those. people. >> Then there's also people that are more. modified on that. In other words, get. the killers out. Get the get the rapists. out. Get all the the rough ones out. Get. the drug dealers out, but let the people.

that are here and in some cases here for. 10 and 15 years, work a deal for them. Okay? So, that's another group. And then. you have a group that So, you have the. group that wants to get everybody out. Then you have the group that wants to. modify it. And then you have a group. that's in very dangerous group, the. sanctuary city group that want to let. murderers stay. They want to they don't. want to give us the criminals. We have. they have murderers that they know are. murderers. And I don't understand that. group. They don't want them out of our. country. They want to protect them. And.

they've literally murdered people. They're drug dealers. They're really bad. people. And. >> but do you think but do you think the. Democratic party right now has people in. it who would be interested in this kind. of deal? >> I think so. Yeah. People have already. called me. >> Who's called? Who's called? >> I get along with a lot of the Democrats. A lot of people. >> So I saw So I'll say I saw James. Talerico, the new Democratic senator. from Texas. >> I saw him on Fox News and he said. immigration was one of the things he. wanted to work with.

>> Others too. South Carolina said. you did in the course of the campaign. You did occasionally call him Talifico. >> Yeah, I did. >> Do you think you could work with the. Democrats without insulting them. [clears throat] consistently? >> I could. >> I also call. >> I also call many of them Democrats. >> You did that just the other day. If if. it took six months of not insulting the. Democrats to get a deal done, do you. think you could do it? >> Very easily. >> Okay, that'll be interesting to watch. Do you think you could help the country? >> Do you think you could do it if they're.

investigating you? If they're running. investigations into your administration, can you work with them? >> Well, I did it for. four years. You know, they what they did. with me was there's never been. weaponization. They impeached me twice. And there are those that say that worked. out to my advantage. I mean, you know, cuz I. >> Do you think they'll impeach you again? >> I can't imagine it. You know, they did. Hey, look. What have I done? I've had. the best two years in the history of the. presidency. You just read the numbers. you just read in terms of the economy,

in terms of everything up until. >> except for public opinion. >> Well, um the only public opinion that's. you also saw public opinion with the. rallies. I mean, I had the largest. rallies in history. I had the greatest. amount of love, if you want to call it. love. Those people love what I'm doing. They love what I've done. But but just. so you understand, in two years, think. of it. We have for 91 days the highest.

stock market in history. We have more. jobs created than ever before in. history. We have the highest amount of. exporting. We're exporting. >> So a big part let me ask you about that. economy. A big part of that economy has. been the success of artificial. intelligence. I know we call it super. intelligence in this house. And you have. said repeatedly whoever wins super. intelligence wins the future. But again, if you go into polls, Americans, they. don't love data centers. They're pretty. negative about AI super intelligence.

What does the average American get out. of AI? >> First, let me just tell you that uh when. you say a big part, yes, it's a part, but we're also building automobile. >> sure. >> factories like we've never built before. Audi just announced $4 billion, but. superintendent. No, but you said a big. part. Uh automobiles. How about. pharmaceutical? Eli Lilly, Merc, Fizer, they're building a lot going on in the. economy, but I want to know about.

>> I know, but there has never been a time. where there is the activity trillions. and trillions of dollars right now as we. sit is being built in a year from now. because they started a year ago. In a. year from now, many of those plants are. going to be open operating. >> But I want I want what do Americans get? you you have I talked to people in. Silicon Valley who say that the. decisions you make around AI. >> are the most important things that. you'll be remembered for. That's what. that's what they that's what they think. and at the same but at the same time.

there is all of this anxiety and concern. and I just want you to know as someone. you are an AI bull. >> I am. >> what do what does the average American. get out of that technology? >> Excuse me before I answer that. The. reason I'm an AI bull. >> Yes. >> One of the reasons is because President. Xi left here. >> two weeks ago. >> We had a great meeting. >> He's all in to SI as I call it because. it really is super intelligence. It's a. it's a much better name I think because.

it's not artificial. It's it's. >> well that at least is what [snorts] it's. what they think they're racing towards. Yes. So China. So we're in a race with. China. >> and if and I said whoever wins that race. wins. >> The level of power of winning that race. is very important. >> What is the power? >> And China has no problem with data. centers, right? >> China has no problem with electricity. And by the way, we don't either because. I'm letting I'm demanding that they. build their own electric plant. Every. one of those centers that goes up now. under me is building their own electric.

And they're giving the excess electric. They're giving the excess electric right. now. They're giving it into the old grid. that we had. We have an old broken grid. and that juice is pouring into the grid. It's going to lower. >> You had all of the AI tycoons in here. >> Yeah, I did. >> And Elon Musk said then, as he said. often, >> the endgame with AI, super intelligence, is that we're incredibly rich and nobody. has to work and everyone gets paid a. universal high income. >> Yeah.

>> You like to work. >> Yeah. Does that sound like a good future. to you? >> No. What what he meant, I think, is that. when a data center, as an example, goes. to a community. Look at West Virginia. They're going wild. They love it. They. say, "Come on in." Uh, and many many. country, many places like it. By the. way, other countries like it. They're. building them in Finland all of a. sudden. Because if we lose that, we're. losing a cash cow. It's a cash cow. But. here's the thing. >> I think you're saving. So look, I think. you are taking his very weird statement.

and because you're a good politician, making it sound normal. But the people. in the AI industry, I almost said the. super intelligence industry, you're. working on me. >> are weird. They're strange. They do. things like stand outside their company. and say, "Hey, >> we're creating this amazing company and. there's a 10% chance it kills humanity.". Like you standing outside a hotel and. saying, "Here's my new hotel." And it. might collapse. But that's. >> but you think that's you think that's. fake. Why are you not worried about the.

doom fears that the people building it. have? >> Because we first of all because China's. going to have it. Okay. So we don't have. it. China's going to have it. That would. put us at an unbelievable disadvantage. It's all between us and China. There's. nobody else. China's going to have it. China is now one year behind us which is. amazing. And President Xi said, "You are. really moved." President Xi got off his. plane. He said, "Wow, have you done a. great job." And he means he's not a guy. that, you know, >> he doesn't he doesn't trade in casual. flattery. >> I don't think so. No, I mean, I've known.

I know him better than probably almost. anybody. >> But so, we're racing China and that. makes it worth the risk. Or you just. think the risk is not real. >> I think that the risk is not nearly as. real as it as they talk. And I think the. risk can be managed and it's managed. You know who? By who? The DOJ. Uh we had a situation where somebody was. reported to us to be doing something bad. with AI. We called them very strongly.

and said get ready to go to jail. Please. give your wife a kiss good night. >> Who was this person this company? >> I can't tell you but we said uh do you. like the color orange because get rid. said go home right now see your wife and. children. Give them a kiss. Good night. And uh that's the story because. >> if the Democrats tomorrow morning you're. going to jail if they wanted to make a. deal to put that this person totally. changed everything. >> totally. Yes sir. Yes sir.

>> Yes sir. Was it a leader of a major AI. company? >> One of the big ones. Yeah. >> Okay. >> One of the big ones. And. >> if the Democrats said we want to put we. want to codify this into law maliciously. but it could have been maliciously. >> Would you would you work with the. Democrats? You're saying the DOJ could. handle this? >> Absolutely. I don't mind on AI safety. >> I don't mind guardrails, but I don't. want to put us in a deep second. position. We're leading number one. And. China has no guardrails, by the way. So, if AI is dangerous, >> well, they have the guardrails of being. a totalitarian state, right?

>> They have the guardrails that whatever. she says goes. With me, it's pretty. strong, but it's not quite that strong. >> By the way, you know, we have very. brilliant people watching every one of. these companies. Brilliant people. I hope so. That well they're the. smartest. They're of hopefully equal. >> equal equal intelligence. Equal. intelligence though to the people. running the company or to super are they. super intelligent? >> They're super intelligent. >> Okay, good.

>> Speaking of your powers, I'm weaving again. Uh in a previous. lifetime, you were rather famous for. saying you're fired quite often. After a. big midterm defeat like this, do you. expect to fire anyone from your team? Yeah, you do. >> Little bit. >> Little bit. >> I love my cabinet. I think they're good, but I'll do be doing maybe a few. changes. I don't want to mention who. because I think they're. >> Well, I will say that we passed uh or we. saw Secretary of Defense Pete Hexath in. the hall. He was meeting with you just. before. Now, his name has come up a few.

times as someone people have called for. his resation. Do you have confidence in. him? >> I do. Look, we've won two wars. We've won Venezuela and taken out. billions and billions and billions of. dollars already and we will be taking. out many billions of dollars and get. along very well and you could call it a. territory. You could call it whatever. you want. We won that war in less than. one hour. >> and you credit and nobody was killed.

>> You credit Pete Hegath. >> No, but he was a part of it. You know, he was he was a part I credit great. soldiers, great generals and great. equipment. We have the best equipment in. the world. We make, you know, I have. >> Do you think HGsth gave you good advice. going into Iran? >> Let's talk Venezuela first. We did an. attack that very few people would have. done. We went into a fort, a military. base with a very bad person who did very. bad things to our country and a lot of. other countries, including drugs and. including set, you know, giving us his.

prison population. Venezuela is that's. where we got the trend and everything. else. And we went into a fort with many, many people and we had 201. And we flew. in with fire and fury as they said and. we got him out of a steel cage. He lived. in a house that was a cage. >> Is that is that is Venezuela the reason. that you decided to do the decapitation. strikes in Iran? >> No, no, it didn't. >> We just I just say the Venezuela attack. will go down in military histories is.

one of the people said don't do it. You. can't do it. you know, they have they're. a very military type nation. You know, you walk around, everybody's a soldier. We went into that and we took out their. leader and and his wife who is also very. powerful and they're right now awaiting. trial and they're guilty. They're very I. won't even say, let me not refer to it. I won't talk about it, but they are. >> prejudge anyone surely. >> Well, I don't want to prejudge. I'm not. involved in the case, but they were they.

were very bad people. back to back to. your. >> They were very bad people and it was one. of the most incredible attacks anyone's. ever seen. They left the the aircraft. carriers at 1:00 in the morning. pitchback. Everything went perfect. This. wasn't a Jimmy Carter deal. This wasn't. a you know where the helicopters are. crashing into each other. This was a. perfect thing. Okay. >> It was in the future. So So you have So. you have confidence in. >> people don't like talking about that? No. Then we have another one. We have. Iran. Iran is decapitated. Their navy's.

gone. Their air force is gone. >> So these are all things I'm just You're. telling me this for reasons you would. keep. Basically, >> I'm telling you this. >> What about this? >> Let me just tell you. We had because. they read the papers, they want to. impeach him. Very unfair. We had two. wars. We won both. We won Venezuela. We. won Iran. Now Iran is simmering, but. it's it's just we are taking out more. oil. We we own the home straight. Just.

just so you understand. >> Yep. I do. No, I do. I do. >> But how do you impeach a guy that we had. two wars? >> How about your succession? Let's impache. >> him. How about the succession? Speaking. of personnel. >> Yeah. >> In two years, someone else is going to. be the Republican nominee for president. >> I assume you're going to endorse someone. for that. >> Probably. Not necessarily. >> Not necessarily. What would make you. What are you thinking about when you. decide whether or not to. >> We have a tremendous bench. I mean, I. have so many people that I have great.

relationships with and you know, not. necessarily. >> Who do you who who would be on the list. besides the vice president? >> Well, I think Marco's great. I think. >> is he staying, by the way, as Secretary. of State, >> I think. So, I mean, he certainly loves. it and he's doing great. He's doing a. fantastic job. The ones they think. about, but there are many others and I'd. rather not mention their names. There's. some senators that are excellent. I know. them all. I like them a lot. So, I may. or may not get involved. I don't know, maybe I'm better off not getting. involved. I think it would play a big.

role if I did because my endorsement. capacity has been very strong. People I. endorse. >> Do you think you can have MAGA without. you as the leader? >> I think so because MAGA is basically. common sense. You know, MAGA's strong. borders, good military. Uh I'd like to. see the interest rates lower. I mean, the problem with interest rates is we. have a board that was largely composed. of Obama and Biden people and they want. to keep the interest rates as high as. possible because that's bad for the.

country which is therefore bad for me. Very unfair. We should have much lower. interest rates because you know in the. old days when you had success the. interest rates went down. You just see. numbers but those numbers are nothing. We have created we have created wealth. at a level that our country has never. seen before in. >> including for yourself. >> There's a Forb story that said that your. net worth maybe it's changed with the. stock market recently but your net worth. went up by $3 billion.

since you returned to. >> Okay, you ready? So. >> everyone's my net worth did not go up by. $3 billion for the stock. >> I I should have you should had stock. >> I should have had stock. >> Excuse me. So. >> how did I how did it go up? I think. >> Well, let me explain. I devote almost no. time to my net worth. I don't care. I. make I have a lot of money and far more. than I ever thought I'd have. And I. guess it's gone up. I don't even know. But just so you know, this is a really. important. Let me explain it. Let me.

explain it to you. >> I have a son who's a very straight good. guy. He watches over money. I don't even. talk to him about it. He watches. He. gives they gave my money. I have a lot. of cash. I've had a lot of cash long. before I came in here. I don't take a. salary. You know, $2 and a half million. dollars. I don't take a salary. >> But you're doing okay. >> I'm doing fine, but I don't take a. salary. Do you know I'm the only. supposedly I don't know if that's right. >> I It's very generous of you to the. American taxpayer, but. >> I am the only president. >> that didn't take every other president.

took their salary. >> All right. Here's here's what I want to. understand, though. This is something. I've thought about for a while. Right. So your son manages or helps manage a. cryptocurrency company called World. Liberty Financial. >> You are a we are a co-owner of that. company. That's correct. Right. That's. correct. Right. >> This company is also partially owned by. investors connected to the government of. the United Arab Emirates. I think if I. told you that story and it was about the.

Biden family, if I said Joe Biden is the. part owner of a company and it has all. of these investments from the Middle. East, you would say that sounds corrupt, >> right? >> Well, he did have a lot of different but. why is it why is it different? >> Well, here's tell you why. Because I. know nothing about it. >> But why do you need. >> I made a lot of money before? >> But then why do you need the money? Why. not just divest walk away? >> I do. Look, most of my money most of my. money is in is given to the biggest. firms on Wall Street to invest. I have.

>> also true of me through index funds. So. we have that in common. >> and they're index funds. Yeah. >> So it came out that I tra traded like. 40,000 stocks. So among the stocks would. be like that have a tiny little amount. It's billions of dollars. It's billions. >> I understand that. But companies that. are invested in by. >> people in countries, it seems like you. could just walk away from that and then. >> you know and then you would not be. accused of corruption, right?

>> I have. But you have sons where they go. around and they build buildings. That's. what they do. That's what I did long. before I became president. I did it. better than anybody. Now I'm putting my. expertise to use at the White House, fixing the White House and doing things. that should have been built long ago. But uh I was very good at real estate. I. made a lot of money. But but I have a. company. My sons run the company. It's. hard to say to them, don't do anything. anymore for four years because I'm. president. >> No, you but. >> but you could divest from the company.

yourself and let them do whatever they. but. >> you're not like sitting in the Oval. Office thinking, "Thank God I have that. 50 million.". >> How do you divest from cash? So I took a. lot of heat because I think they traded. like 50,000 stocks because that's what. they do. It's all computerenerated. So. if they buy a little tiny piece of. Nvidia, oh, Trump is a I have no idea. what the hell they're buying. I've never. even heard of it before. It's all. computerenerated. It's done by the. biggest companies in the world. I've.

never even spoken to the company. I. don't care. Honestly, I don't care. What. it is is you take billions of dollars, you give it to these guys. Good luck. Right. >> And then they start trading and they. trade where. >> But do you think they go up? >> Do you think the people the people who. are investing in the company that you. co-own with your sons who are coming. from foreign countries who want things. from your government, don't you think. they think that they are buying. influence? >> Uh, I don't know. But that's true. Look,

every president has a problem. Uh, you. have people and they work for you and. guys like you cover them and you do. profiles on them and they become like. everybody thinks that Trump loves them. and everything else, which in some cases. is true, and some cases are not. This is. true for every president. True. Going. back to George Washington. >> Yes. Every president has not owned. cryptocurrency company. However, >> but they own something whatever crypto. was at the time. Okay? You know, there's. crypto and before that there was oil and. the Okay. And every president has had.

this problem. So, you have a guy, a. trusted aid, everything's good. And then. the trusted aid says, "Sir, I love you. so much and I'll be leaving." I said, "Well, good luck." and he goes into a. company that's a defense company or I. mean defense more than crypto frankly. They go into the defense, they go into. the this, they go into the financial. market, they go to Wall Street, they go. no matter what they do, there's a. conflict because the president is. all-encompassing, right? And this is not. me. Every president that there's ever. been, they have people, many people, I.

watch it all the time. Every time you. have a president, their top people, sometimes they stay. I mean I have some. that will stay right till the last day. other but after they leave they go crazy. they go crazy it's true for every. president sometimes. >> I feel like there have been more people. doing things like that while serving in. the administration but listen. >> a bigger name than other presidents. whether we like it or not. and people will leave office and then. they'll go into the oil business and.

then immediately everyone says oh they. have a conflict look every I watch Bush. I watched. Look at look at uh Biden, but. look at Obama. Obama got from Netflix. How much Obama what Obama did Obama got. hundred million to make a movie that. never. >> What Obama did after his presidency was. >> he made the deal during his presidency. during his presidency and he made a.

movie afterward and the movie made about. three cents. I'll have to ask Chat GPT. about that after this conversation. Your. administration. alone among modern administrations has. spent a lot of time releasing footage of. UFOs, >> unidentified flying objects. I think a. lot of that footage for people who are. interested in the topic has been. interesting but fuzzy, you know, unclear, maybe a little disappointing.

Is there anything that you have seen or. heard about or been told about that. would lead you to think that there's. something more there than just we're. having a good time looking at things in. the sky? >> It's so amazing that you asked this. question because it is one of the. questions in private I get asked about. More people ask me about UFOs than I. mean. >> I believe it people that you wouldn't. think. >> So what's the answer? >> So here's the story. I'm not too much of. a believer, but I sat in the Oval Office.

first term and a little bit second term, meeting with Air Force pilots that are. really good, solid people. These are not. people that you would say are conspiracy. theorists. They don't even know what it. means, but they're great, great pilots. Uh, young, handsome, they have c. beautiful, nice flat tops. I'd like to. have a haircut just like him. They look. perfect like Tom Cruz. Mhm. >> It looked Tom Cruz very very in the. posterior they're thinned very thin and.

very everything and but they're real. they're the real deal. >> and they've told me things that are very. strange. They said that uh in in certain. cases they said yes there's something. going on out there because they're. flying an F-22 which is the best there. is the fastest the best plane that. anyone's ever seen and something goes by. them at three times their speed and it's. round it's not aerodynamic it's round. >> and it's well maybe it was a comet.

>> so that's the mystery but then along. with those pilots there's a set of. people who have styled themselves as. whistleblowers who have come out and. said, "Actually, there's also a secret. program that even presidents don't know. about to study this stuff." Have you. seen any evidence that that is the case? >> And I haven't heard that. But if there. is, I'm going to find out about it right. after this interview. Okay. It's an. amazing thing though. >> I have more interest. And you know, if. you go to Nevada where they have a very,

very common chain link fence, there's. more tourists at that chainlink fence. because that's where they say it all. happens. I don't know if that's true. I. don't think it's true. But did you ever. see the people, thousands and thousands. of people looking over a piece of land? There is more interest in that subject. than any of the question. >> But you're interested in it because. people are interested in it. I'm. interested because you're on the way to. discovering it. >> I I would like to find out whether or. not it's true. I will tell you, you have.

a lot of very solid people that believe. it's true. >> You came into office promising to make. peace in Ukraine. >> Yeah. >> There's [snorts] still a war going on. What's the biggest obstacle to peace? >> Uh it was the hatred between Zinsky and. Putin. I believe that we're very close. to making a deal. And I think it two. things. If I were president, because as. you know the Well, you're not going to. admit it. The I it was rigged. That's. why I did it a third time because it was. rigged. That was my ultimate poll. If I. had been president, that war would have.

never started. Zero chance. But it did. start. So, I inherited that war. I. believe we're very close to making. >> Who do you trust more, President Putin. or President? >> Well, I'd rather not say, but I get. along with both. And in fact, we have we. have a meeting. We have a meeting. This. show will air and the meeting will have. taken place. It's going to be on. Saturday, but it's going to extend to. Sunday and to Monday into Tuesday and. there's so you'll be seeing it. Uh. there's a very important meeting taking.

place. I believe that that war is going. to end and it's going to end soon and. the only reason it's going to end is. because of me. There is tremendous. hatred between President Putin and. President Zinski. And you know, >> isn't it more understandable coming from. President Zilinski given that his. country was actually invaded? >> Well, it is, but it was also uh very. very uh when they had their first. meeting, there was great disrespect. shown to Russia. So, I'm not going to. say anything. >> I mean, but balancing out invading. disrespect. >> Let's put it this way. The war never.

happened during my four years and it was. never going to happen even though it was. the apple of President Putin's eye. >> Do you think that Putin is You don't. think he's Do you think he is stringing. you along? Oh, I don't think so. >> Because you've been saying over and over. you're going to make peace and it just. seems like he's the obstacle. >> There's been nobody that's been tougher. on Russia than me. Look at our trade. Look what I've done to them on trade. with the sanctions and everything else. Look what I did to them as an example. I. gave them the anti-tank busters, right?

I gave them I gave them. >> Well, you've gone back and forth. Wait a. minute. Wait a minute. No, >> you've gone back and forth. you at some. points you have done lots of things big. things in support of Ukraine but just. recently you lifted diesel sanctions on. Russia like you've done various things. to take pressure off. >> I didn't lift diesel sanctions uh I made. it possible for Russia to give not us. but to the world uh thousands and. thousands of barrels of oil of diesel. oil which it needed uh didn't do any big.

favor but look at what I've done I've. given them in fact there's an old. statement. that Obama gave them sheets and I gave. them anti-tank busters. Okay, that's. what I gave them. And. >> but now it's but now it's Europe. supplying them weapons, not us. >> No, it's us. We're supplying the. weapons. >> Well, Europe is Europe Europe. Europe is. buying the weapons. >> Biden gave them $350 billion worth of. cash and weapons. I gave them.

>> uh nothing. I give it to Europe, sell it. at full price and they pay us. And not. only that, the 350 billion. I felt so. bad about it because I thought it was so. stupid. Europe has money. Europe would. have paid, but nobody asked. So, we just. gave weapon after weapon after weapon. and we supplied the weapons. And by the. way, Ukraine had the courage to use them. because you still have to have courage. to use them and they've been very. formidable, but they had the best.

weapons on earth. Uh, and we got nothing. for it. I sell. >> We got We got We got Ukrainian. independence for it, right? >> Well, you haven't gotten it yet. You. haven't gotten anything yet. Let's see. how it all works out. Uh, but I hope. >> But you expect it to all work out with a. free. >> I think we're going to have it done and. I think it's going to happen and they're. going to end up with a uh little bit. different shape. Ukraine, look, this is. a war that should have never happened. If I were president, this war would have. never happened. Last Ukraine question on.

the aid and support we give them. One. form of support comes through Starlink, which is a satellite system. >> owned by Elon Musk. >> There was a version of it that's. controlled by the US government. >> There was a recent case where Starlink. speeds were slowed down. >> a lot which made it harder for the. Ukrainians to use it. Who is actually in. charge of that system in in the world? You or. >> Musk? It wasn't me. I don't know. I. would say that probably I have a lot of. power over everything. You know, you're.

the president. You have a lot of power. So, I'm not going to. >> Shouldn't you have the power to control. a system that's. >> uh probably. >> part of a war zone that we're involved. in? >> And if it was necessary, probably that. situation was fixed pretty quickly. >> So, did Elon turn it down? >> I I don't think he literally turned a. dial. >> I can't tell you who turned it down. I. can tell you ultimately he turned it. back up and so they have it. >> Why can't you tell me who turned it. down? Seems like a important question. I. don't know. I mean, uh, the system is a. very good system and, uh, it was perhaps.

turned down. I mean, I don't even know. I haven't been, it hasn't been proven to. me that it was turned down. There's a. lot of lies going on with that war, but. I know this that when I heard about it, it went back up. >> All right, let's finish up last legacy. questions. Um, first, do you expect to. issue a lot of pardons when you leave. office? >> Yes, I do. >> Do you expect to pardon yourself? Uh I. don't but it's certainly uh Do. >> you think you have the power of. yourself? >> I do. But but more importantly uh I.

don't want to have good people that are. serving this country and doing a great. job spending the rest of their life like. I had to do for four years defending. myself by radical left lunatics by. people that were very nasty and mean. Uh. I intend to issue tremendous numbers of. pardons. In fact, I say oftentimes. anybody that get got within a thousand. miles of the Oval Office because I don't.

want people spending the rest of their. lives. >> So, will you pardon me? >> I I think. >> I mean, we're very close to the Oval. Office. I think I might have to after. this interview. >> I think I might have to. No, I think. it's very unfair. Um, I pardon the. J6ers. I don't think any group's been. treated more unfairly than them. And and. to this day, when they see me, they cry. They were. >> even the ones who attacked police. officers were treated unfairly. There. were some that got rough, but you know, they were rough to them, too. You. >> don't cops have a right to use force. against people? >> Nobody better with police than I am.

>> I've I had 99.9%, you know, every police, every group of. police endorsed me. The Fraternal Order, every single. >> The capital police like you. >> They love me. And by the way, speaking. of that, >> the crime rate in Washington DC is down. 89%. It's the safest. And when I was. here, it was a killing field. Three. murders a week. Now we haven't had a. murder in a long time. And by the way, nobody has died. You know, when you call. it a war, it's not a war. If you look at.

what's happened with Iran in the last. six months, five months, six months. We. haven't lost one soldier. You know, I. wrote one thing down. I think it's. interesting. I just wrote it. I just. looked at it this morning. So, we've. been in Iran seven months, maybe eight. months. There have been 18 people and. that includes Venezuela. Two wars. Venezuela where by the way we've taken. out 50 times what the war has cost. already to the victor belong to SW. But. listen just one second.

>> Afghanistan 20 years thousands of people. killed. Iraq war nine years 5,000 people. killed. Vietnam 21 years 60,000 people. killed. The Korean War four years 40,000. people killed. This is this is a good. >> this war. Wait, this war 7 months, 18. people killed. That includes Venezuela. 18. Now, >> this is a good segue to my last. question. >> Okay, but just 18 is too much. I hear.

you. But you're talking about 40,000, 50,000, 60,000. >> I agree that the Iran war has had many. fewer casualties. >> But what did we get? What did we get? No. nuclear. We won and there will be no. nuclear. And they didn't get anything. Those wars were lost and they lost. 60,000. >> Let's talk about death. >> Okay. >> You have survived multiple assassination. attempts. One came very very close to. you. >> I imagine that that had some kind of. effect on how you think about mortality. >> What do you think happens when you die?

>> Well, I hope I missed. >> No, [laughter] I mean I mean to you. >> No, but I really hope I understand. I. mean to. >> I think I've done a good job as. >> What do you think happens to Donald. Trump when you die? >> Well, again, >> not your memory yourself. Um, you mean where I go? >> Exactly. >> Well, I'm a religious person, so in. theory, I go to heaven. >> Do you think you're going to heaven? >> Uh, I hope so. I don't want to go to. hell. >> So, I watched you at Charlie Kirk's. memorial service. And Erica Kirk, his. widow, got up,

>> and gave some very moving remarks about. Christian forgiveness, how you have to. forgive your enemies, right, and your. opponents. and you followed her and you. said, and I know this was a little bit. of a joke, but I think facts come. through jokes. You said, quote, "I hate. my opponents and I don't want the best. for them." Let's say you pass away. You're entering the next life and all. you have to do to enter paradise is feel. love and forgiveness for.

James Comey, Nancy Pelosi, anyone who. you have expressed hate for over the. years. Do you think you can do it? >> Well, then I wouldn't be real, would I? I mean, if I said to you, sure, the easy. answer to that, oh, yes, I could. forgive. >> No, I don't think it's an easy question. >> I found them to be extremely dishonest. people. Very bad people. Very bad for. our country. I love our country far more. than I can love people and people like. that. >> Is the answer no? >> The answer is no. I want to be honest. >> Before the judgment throne of God.

>> before the judgment, no. I think they. were very bad people and uh I dislike I. can use the word hate. I do hate some of. my enemies. I think they're they've been. terrible. Look what they put me through. The weaponization. I. >> You have Mr. Mr. President, Mr. President, you have had the most charmed. and remarkable life of any American in. my entire lifetime. And you are telling. me that before the judgment throne of. God, you couldn't find it in your heart. to forgive some of your enemies? >> Uh,

>> after all that's been given to you. Come. on, help me out here. >> I mean, it's such an easy answer. All I. have to do is say yes, I can. >> I I again, I don't think it's an easy. answer. That's. >> Can I Can I be honest? I probably cannot. do that now because I do hate some of my. enemies and I always will. >> Lots of presidents are remembered with a. single line. He freed the slaves. He won. the Cold War. A 100 years from now, while you're working out your situation. in purgatory, what is the line that your presidency is.

remembered with? >> That I made America great again. >> I guess I asked for that. Thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you. Thank you very much.