Exclusive: PALM BEACH — President-elect Donald Trump said Monday that it is “essential” to have a “free, fair and open media” to “make America great again” and that he has a “duty… '' he told FOX News Digital. He called on the American people to cooperate with the media, including those that treated him “incomprehensibly badly.”
In an exclusive interview Monday morning, the president-elect said he is in the process of transforming the United States into “the greatest and most powerful country in the world.”
Trump spoke about his relationship with the media and how he plans to engage with them in his second term.
“To make America great again, it is critical, if not essential, to have free, fair and open media and news outlets,” President Trump said.
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President Trump met with MSNBC's “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski in Palm Beach on Friday, marking the first time the two have met in seven years.
Former President Donald Trump, then Republican presidential candidate, speaks at a campaign event in Mint Hill, North Carolina, Wednesday, September 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
“I received a call from Joe Scarborough requesting a meeting with Micah, and we agreed that it would be a good thing for such a meeting to take place,” Trump said. “We met at Mar-a-Lago on Friday morning at 8 o'clock.”
President Trump said the meeting was “very friendly.”
“A lot of things were discussed, but I really appreciated the fact that they wanted open communication,” he said. “In many ways, it's too bad it wasn't done a long time ago.”
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President Trump added, “They congratulated me on running a “historic, amazing, perfect campaign.'' I truly believe that, but it's something that I will continue to do for a long time. It was also a hard-working campaign — probably the longest and hardest-working campaign of any president.” historical candidates. ”
“We talked about various Cabinet members, both those that have been announced and those that are yet to be announced. As expected, they really like some of them, but not all of them,” Trump said. “The meeting ended on a very positive note and we agreed to discuss things further.”
Trump added: “I expect this will be done against other members of the media, even extremely hostile members of the media.”
The president-elect said he felt it was his “duty to the American people and to our country itself to be open and informed to the press.”
“But if we're not treated fairly, it's going to end,” Trump said. “The media is critical to the long-term success of the United States.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to speak at an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on November 6, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“We'll do whatever it takes to take our country to the highest level we've ever seen,” Trump told Fox News Digital.
“We are off to a good start. We will be open and free about future developments, including with media relations,” he said.
Trump said he has a “clear advantage at this point.”
“While many others are calling for a rally, I am not calling for retaliation, for bigotry, or for destroying those who have treated me so unfairly or so badly beyond comprehension. “I’m not asking for it,” he said. “I always want to give a second chance, even a third chance, but I'm never going to give a fourth chance. That's where I stand.”
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However, President Trump expressed his gratitude to “the many reporters, journalists, broadcasters, and new media personnel, many of whom have been honest, honest, and professional over the years of my presidency and candidacy.” expressed.
“These are the people who got me into the game, the people who helped me win. We've never seen anything like this in our country,” Trump said. he said. “These people and organizations know who they are, should be, and are, and they are very proud of themselves and have a right to be proud. And I have every right to congratulate them.”
Trump, on the other hand, gained control of the majority of key Cabinet members just a week and a half after his landslide election victory.
President-elect Donald Trump watches the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
His transition team will leave Palm Beach, Florida, and return to Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2025.
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“I will soon begin the process of turning America into the greatest and most powerful country in the world,” President Trump told Fox News Digital. “But at the same time, this country must be a fair and just country – a country that people around the world respect and emulate.”
The president-elect added, “I hope that our success will make the world itself a better and safer place.”
