Trump’s special interview: Iran, the shooting in Minnesota and the central bank governor

US President Donald Trump gave a special interview tonight (between Tuesday and Wednesday) to the CBS evening news anchor, Tony Dukofil, which took place inside a production line at the vehicle plant of the American Ford company, as part of the president’s visit to the city of Detroit where the plant is located.

During the interview, Trump was asked about a number of topics, including of course the rising tensions in light of the protests in Iran, the shooting of Brenna Nicole Goode in Minnesota by an ICE agent and the crisis with the chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell. As usual, President Trump provided some controversial quotes but ones that may make waves around the world and on a variety of different topics.

 

“If they hang protesters – you will see our very strong actions”

President Trump in a special interview

• Trump said that “help is on the way” to Iran, clarified that the US intends to help it financially, and added that Washington “put Iran ‘out of business’ in everything related to its nuclear capability.”
• He claimed that no one knows exactly how many protesters have been killed in Iran, but according to him “it seems like a pretty big number and it’s going to be a lot of trouble for them.”
• The president confirmed that Iran has crossed a red line if it is indeed killing protesters, and said that if they start hanging them “we will see very strong actions”.
• He defined the American goal as “to win”, and said that the USA has already proven itself in other places such as the elimination of al-Baghdadi, Soleimani and the most recent – the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Maduro.
• Trump claimed that Iran’s nuclear threat was “destroyed within 15 minutes” using B2 bombers, and that it was “total annihilation.”

 

“The US may have the strongest economy in history”

President Trump on the economic situation in the USA

• Trump emphasized that inflation is at a low level, and claimed that he brought it down after inheriting a “mess” from the previous administration.
• According to him, car factories like Ford, GM and others are working around the clock and expanding production, and more factories are being built in the US than ever before.
• The president claimed that the US “perhaps has the strongest economy in history.”
• He said that the stock market is at historic highs and that the growth and employment figures are “in the sky”.
• Trump added regarding foreign investments from countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which he claims each invests in the US to the extent of two trillion dollars.
• According to him, companies are leaving Canada, Mexico, Japan and Europe and moving operations to the United States.

 

“I call him ‘the late one’. He is corrupt or incompetent”

The president on the conflict with the governor of the US central bank

• Trump called Powell a bad chairman and said that he calls him “the latecomer”, according to him – because he did not lower the high interest rates in the US on time.
• The president added that he was surprised that the previous administration had reappointed Powell to the post.
• Trump attacked the management of the renovation of the office buildings and claimed that Powell is wasting “billions and billions”.
• According to him, Powell “is either corrupt or incompetent.”
• Asked if it was a political vendetta, Trump said he couldn’t help the way things looked, but reiterated that the American economy was booming.

 

“She was probably a good and wonderful woman under normal circumstances, but her actions were harsh”

Trump on the shooting of Brenna Nicole Goode in Minnesota

• Dukofil mentioned that Trump called Renee Goode, who was shot by an ICE agent, a “domestic American terrorist.”
• Trump said he loved all Americans and claimed she “probably would have been a good, wonderful woman under normal circumstances.”
• However, he added that “her actions were difficult”.
• Trump said there are “hundreds of thousands of murderers” in the US who entered because of Biden’s border policy.
• He defended ICE agents, saying they were trying to get criminals out of the country under harsh conditions.
• Regarding the videos from the event, he said there are versions that “look very, very bad.”

 

“What limits my power? My morality”

The president after being asked about the great power he has in his hands

• Tony Dukofil asked Trump if there is anything that limits his action and power within the United States, beyond “his own morality”.
• Trump replied that he considers himself a moral person, saying: “I’m a moral person. I don’t like to see death. I don’t like to see our people hurt, and neither do the other side.”
• He cited Venezuela as an example, saying that when the US operated there “we didn’t lose anyone, but on the other side a lot of people were killed,” adding that he didn’t like it, even if others did.
• Trump said that his power is limited by his personal morality, emphasizing: “I have a very high level of morality, so it limits me.”
• Dukofil specifically asked if it is not the constitution and the courts that limit him.
• Trump replied that the constitution “obviously does”, but added that according to him they will not reach this stage at all, because he is acting for what is good for the country.
• He concluded that the courts also want what is best for the United States, so in his opinion there will be no conflict between them and his actions.