FINAL WORD
off the record. Yes, those were some of the more interesting moments, but a man honors his word, and I gave the President mine. Here’s what I can tell you about the on the record portions... This president loves this country and its people. I know that sounds trite, but it constantly exudes from him. Trump is also deeply engaging and entertaining in person, and despite what the media often claims, insightful and quick to cut through nonsense. There are two things the president told me that you will want to know... First, I asked him to promise me that, given the economic devastation we have seen, he would agree to never advocate for another national lockdown again. He couldn’t have been more clear on this: “No second lockdown, no matter what,” he told me. Trump went to Michigan the next day and announced this same promise to the American people in front of the national media. This was the one thing beyond all others I wanted to hear him say, and I was deeply gratified that he agreed with me on it. The second major takeaway he told me had to do with the ongoing Russia-collusion debacle. Recently declassified documents from the Director of National Intelligence and Senate Republicans have shown that General Flynn was set up at the highest levels of the FBI and DOJ. When I asked what to expect next, the president wouldn’t give me details, but he did say with a big grin that what’s coming next on Russiagate would be “unbelievable.”
My half-hour sit-down with the president went by in a flash. As hard as it may be to believe, it was more like two friends talking than an up-and-coming media commentator sitting down with the most powerful person on the planet. Then again, that’s part of Trump’s genius... And it’s how he was able to overturn the political establishment in the stunning 2016 election upset. Trump is such a gifted politician that he makes you think he isn’t one – at least not when he’s talking to you – despite holding the highest elected office in the land. Trump’s certainly going to need all that and more. With the country fighting through an ongoing pandemic, the economy in a depression, and the 2020 election looming, it’s obvious Trump faces the biggest test of his presidency so far. You see, days after my meeting with President Trump, a routine arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota turned into a national tragedy. First, I asked him to promise me that, given the economic devastation we have seen, he would agree to never advocate for another national lockdown again. He couldn’t have been more clear on this: “No second lockdown, no matter what,” he told me.
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June 2020
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