In a recent interview with Politico’s Dasha Burns, President Donald Trump expressed criticism towards the publication after being asked about his plans for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Trump claimed Maduro’s “days are numbered,” although he didn’t provide further details. When Burns inquired if he might consider a ground invasion, Trump responded, “I don’t want to decide who’s inside and who’s not. I won’t talk about that.”
He added, “Why would I explain this to a publication that, let’s say, isn’t exactly friendly, when I’m receiving $8 million from Obama to help keep Politico afloat? Why would I divulge that?”
The tension between Trump and Maduro escalated when reports indicated that Trump instructed Maduro to vacate Venezuela shortly before announcing a closure of the country’s airspace. Politico issued a note in the interview transcript clarifying that Trump likely referred to a canceled subscription, aimed at reducing government spending, and emphasized that they do not receive financial support from the government.
The publication also criticized the “misinformation” and false claims made about it by federal agencies earlier this year. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt mentioned that all government payments to Politico would cease following a spending review by the Department of Government Efficiency.
Leavitt stated, “Over $8 million of taxpayer funds have been used to subsidize subscriptions to Politico, and that will not continue.” There was some debate over the amount sourced from USAID, although only a small portion — around $44,000 — came from the agency, as a typical subscription to Politico Pro ranges from $12,000 to $15,000 for three users.
Trump, in the same interview, mentioned that he agreed to speak with Politico since he was selected by them to represent Europe. He reflected on the current state of Europe, stating, “Europe is not doing a good job in many ways,” especially regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
