President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday sought to allay the fears of panicked liberals about him and instead drum up excitement about his far-reaching policies for the country.
Throughout the 2024 campaign, Trump's liberal opponents have used his rhetoric to paint him as a vengeful figure intent on tearing apart institutional norms.
But in a prerecorded chat with NBC's “Meet the Press” — his first sit-down TV interview since winning the election — President Trump said the 78-year-old Republican addressed many of those concerns. He seemed to be trying to confront the situation head-on and portray himself as follows. Realist.
Here are the key takeaways from President Trump's interview:
A hands-off approach to the Department of Justice and FBI
The president-elect has largely delayed rather than directing Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and loyalist Kash Patel to fill positions that could lead them to lead the Justice Department and FBI, respectively. He indicated his intention to do so.
President Trump was asked if he wanted Bondi to investigate special counsel Smith and the team that was prosecuting the president-elect on several criminal charges.
“I think he's very corrupt,” Trump said of Smith.
Still, Trump said of Bondi and any investigation she might pursue, “I want her to do what she wants to do.”
Trump was also asked about a list of 60 so-called “deep state” officials that Patel allegedly compiled.
Winners were asked if they wanted to see people investigated.
Trump said “no,” but left the door open for Patel to do so.
“He's going to do what he thinks is right,” Trump said. “If they think someone is dishonest or a crooked politician or a corrupt politician, I think they probably have a duty to do that.”
Asked to clarify whether he would order such an investigation, President Trump replied, “No, I would not order one at all.”
“They should go to jail.”
In one scene in a wide-ranging interview that is sure to infuriate critics, there was a moment when the president-elect suggested that members of the defunct House Jan. 6 Select Committee should be jailed.
The committee was investigating Trump's alleged involvement in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
President Trump gushed about the committee members, saying, “Honestly, they should go to jail for what they did.''
But then, when asked if he would direct the U.S. attorney general and FBI director to go after them, Trump said: “No, not at all.”
“I think they need to look into it, but I don't think they're going to. [ask]. I'm going to focus on drill baby drill,'' Trump said, referring to his push to increase oil and gas production.
The Biden administration is considering whether to grant blanket pardons to potential targets of President Trump, including members of the committee, including former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.). According to multiple reports.
Significant reductions in social security are not subject to consideration
Since the Republican Party won the election, Republican lawmakers have expressed new energy in taking on the national debt and cutting the government.
President Trump added to the excitement by naming entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as co-directors of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is not actually a government department.
But he ruled out making major cuts to at least one program, Social Security.
President Trump said, “I will not touch Social Security other than to make it more efficient, but the people will receive what they can get.'' “And we’re not raising them.” [requirement] Age and things like that. ”
Do not dismiss Fed Chairman Jerome Powell early
In October, President Trump worried market analysts by claiming that the president: Some fluctuations in monetary policy And by not taking a firm stance on whether to fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell before his term ends.
“No, I don't think so. I don't know that,” Trump said when asked whether he would appoint Powell, whose term ends in May 2026.
President Trump nominated Powell to serve on the Federal Reserve Board at the end of 2017, but President Biden chose to retain Powell.
In other countries, central banks that are not sufficiently isolated from the political process are often more susceptible to problems such as inflation.
If so, I would stay in NATO…
President Trump also made it clear that he intends to keep the United States in NATO on the condition that the powerful military alliance “pays a price.”
“They have to pay their bills. If they pay their bills, absolutely,” Trump said in response to a question about remaining in the alliance.
“NATO is using us,” he said. “They use us in trade. …And then we protect them. So it's a double whammy.”
NATO members are expected to spend 2% of their gross domestic product on defense. In the wake of the Ukraine war, all but eight of the 32-nation bloc have fulfilled their obligations. According to the data From the Atlantic Council.
President Trump added that Ukraine “probably shouldn't expect” military aid from the United States under his watch.
He said he had not spoken to Russian leader Vladimir Putin “recently.”
Biden withdraws threat to prosecute
In August 2023, President Trump indicated on Truth Social that he would appoint a special counsel or special counsel to go after President Biden, perhaps an act to extend the influence of his son Hunter. This is probably related to the alleged dealings with President Biden.
“No, I won't unless I can find something reasonable, but that's not my decision. It's Pam Bondi's decision, and to a different extent Kash Patel's decision,” Trump said. told NBC.
“I really want this country to be successful. I don't want to go back to the past,” President Trump explained. “Retribution will be earned through success.”
I don't think having an abortion will change him.
President Trump departed from Republican orthodoxy on abortion in April by declaring he would not pursue federal regulation of controversial abortion procedures.
During the NBC interview, President Trump suggested he would stick to it, while giving himself some leeway.
“I'll probably continue to do what I've been saying for the last two years, and the answer is no,” Trump said when asked about such restrictions, including on access to abortion pills.
“Things change. I think they're going to change. I don't want Joe Biden to go on a show like, 'I'm not going to pardon my son.'” Referring to the retraction of the statement, he tweeted: “I don't like to put myself in that position.
“Things change. But I don't think it changes at all.”
Protecting “Dreamers” and ending birthright citizenship
President Trump said the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution allows illegal immigrants to cross the border and give birth to children on U.S. soil, and those children automatically become citizens. He repeatedly called for it to be abolished.
But when it comes to “Dreamers,” whose families were already brought to the country illegally at a young age and later grew up in this country, President Trump suggested he would work with Democrats to solve the problem.
President Trump said, “Dreamers are going to come later. We have to do something about Dreamers, because they are people who were brought here at a very young age, and many of them are now middle schoolers.'' It's because he's 20 years old.''
“I’m going to work with the Democrats to come up with a plan. [see] If only I could make a plan. But the Democrats made it very difficult to do anything. The Republican Party is very open to Dreamers.”
There is no separation of families in immigration – although everyone can work together
The president-elect also emphasized that he is keen to avoid a repeat of the controversial family separation policy that sparked a backlash during his first administration.
“I don't want to separate families,” President Trump said. “So the only way to not tear families apart is to keep them together and send everyone back.
“There is no need to separate families,” President Trump said. “We will send the entire family back to their country of origin in a very humane manner.”
Host Kristen Welker asked about the impact on children whose parents are in the U.S. illegally but are legally here.
“In that case, the family has a choice: either the illegal immigrant leaves, or they all leave,” he said.
President Trump has said he will prioritize deporting violent illegal immigrants who have committed other crimes.
Day 1
Trump teased that he would pursue a busy first day agenda packed with executive orders on a variety of issues, including the economy and the border.
“We won on groceries. A very simple word: groceries,” Trump said, referring to the economy and reflecting on his election victory.
“When you buy an apple, when you buy bacon, when you buy eggs, the price will double or triple in a short period of time,” he said, referring to the previous administration.
The president-elect has also indicated that he will consider issuing a pardon for the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot when he assumes the Oval Office again.
“I'm going to move very quickly,” Trump teased. “We're going to look at everything. We're going to look at each case individually.”
