Chris Voss Discusses Trump’s Empathy in Podcast

Renowned hostage negotiator Chris Voss appeared in a podcast interview with David Marchese of The New York Times on Saturday, where they explored perceptions of empathy in the Trump administration.

Voss, who previously worked with the FBI, was asked if he thinks Trump embodies empathy. He responded, “I think he has a very evolved understanding of how others see things.”

Critique of Trump’s Political Insight

Marchese probed further into Voss’s thoughts, especially regarding Trump’s military decisions, such as opting to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities instead of targeting its leadership. Voss noted that this decision indicated a degree of empathy, stating, “There’s a sense of empathy there. I don’t necessarily agree, and I’m not on their side, but I think he has a very evolved feeling if he understands how someone sees it.”

Marchese then shifted the discussion to immigration, asking whether Trump has a nuanced perception regarding how others approach immigration issues. Voss agreed, suggesting that Trump is influenced by political calculations but may not fully realize how his actions are perceived.

Following this, Marchese insisted on exploring the topic of empathy further in relation to immigration and asked Voss to clarify how Trump’s approach connects with broader empathetic understandings.

Voss expressed uncertainty about the situation, indicating he lacks firsthand knowledge of the specifics involved, stating, “the system will collapse” when directives aren’t adhered to. In light of this, he admitted, “As an individual, there’s a really tough question about it. I’m looking at it from afar.” This led him to sidestep some of the more complicated aspects of the discussion.

Ultimately, Voss demonstrated that discussing empathy—especially in a political context—can bring up a lot of complexities, sometimes leading to hesitant or incomplete answers. He acknowledged the challenge of forming definitive opinions when not directly involved.