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September 3, 2024 • 1hr 12min
#442 – Donald Trump Interview
Lex Fridman Podcast
In this episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast, host Lex Fridman interviews Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States and current Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election. The wide-ranging conversation covers Trump's views on winning and losing, his approach to politics, foreign policy issues like the Ukraine war, domestic issues like immigration and marijuana legalization, his use of social media, and his thoughts on power, division in America, and mortality.
Trump, known for his brash communication style and controversial presidency, offers insights into his mindset as a political leader and potential future president. The interview provides a platform for Trump to express his views directly, while also revealing aspects of his personality and approach to governance.
#442 – Donald Trump Interview
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Key Takeaways
- On winning and losing: Trump says he is equally driven by the love of winning and hate of losing. He notes that great champions in sports have a different mindset and passion that sets them apart.
- On politics: Trump calls politics a "dirty game" that requires getting your message out consistently across different platforms. He says it takes courage to run for president.
- On the Ukraine war: Trump claims he could make a deal to end the war if elected president again. He blames the Biden administration for allowing the conflict to happen.
- On the 2020 election: Trump continues to claim there was fraud, though provides no evidence. He focuses more on criticizing the current administration's policies.
- On immigration: Trump advocates for quickly deporting criminals and those with mental illnesses who have entered the country illegally. He wants to return to his stricter border policies.
- On marijuana: Trump supports legalizing marijuana if done in a "safe" and controlled way, citing Florida as a good model. He's open to the medical benefits.
- On social media: Trump defends his provocative posts, saying reposts cause more trouble than original posts. He sees social media as his "typewriter" to get messages out.
- On political division: Trump blames the current administration for division but offers little in terms of how he would unify the country beyond removing them from office.
- On power and corruption: Trump claims power has not corrupted him, citing his decision not to prosecute Hillary Clinton after winning in 2016.
- On mortality and religion: Trump believes the country needs more religion to provide moral "guardrails" for society. He avoids dwelling on his own mortality.
Introduction
In this episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast, host Lex Fridman interviews Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States and current Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election. The wide-ranging conversation covers Trump's views on winning and losing, his approach to politics, foreign policy issues like the Ukraine war, domestic issues like immigration and marijuana legalization, his use of social media, and his thoughts on power, division in America, and mortality.
Trump, known for his brash communication style and controversial presidency, offers insights into his mindset as a political leader and potential future president. The interview provides a platform for Trump to express his views directly, while also revealing aspects of his personality and approach to governance.
Topics Discussed
Psychology of Winning and Losing (9:19)
Trump discusses his drive to win and aversion to losing, drawing parallels to great sports champions:
- He says he's equally motivated by love of winning and hate of losing
- Notes that sports champions have a unique mindset and passion
- "There's a different mindset among champions. There's really a very different mindset," Trump observes
- He emphasizes the importance of not giving up easily
Politics as a "Dirty Game" (12:01)
Trump characterizes politics and his approach to succeeding in it:
- Calls politics a "dirty game" that requires getting your message out consistently
- Emphasizes the importance of using various platforms to reach people
- Notes the courage required to run for president: "It takes guts to run for president. I can tell you it takes guts to run."
- Highlights the differences between business and political success, noting many successful businesspeople struggle in politics
The War in Ukraine (16:15)
Trump discusses the ongoing conflict and his potential approach:
- Claims he could make a deal to end the war if elected president again
- Blames the Biden administration for allowing the conflict to happen
- Expresses concern about the death toll and destruction in Ukraine
- Warns of potential escalation to World War III if not resolved quickly
The 2020 Election and Current Administration (23:57)
Trump continues to dispute the 2020 election results and criticizes the current administration:
- Maintains his belief that there was widespread fraud, though provides no evidence
- Focuses criticism on current policies, especially regarding the economy and border security
- "I think the fraud was on the other side. I think the election was a fraud," Trump asserts
- Argues that the ability to challenge elections is crucial for maintaining integrity
Immigration and Border Security (30:39)
Trump outlines his stance on immigration and border policies:
- Advocates for quickly deporting criminals and those with mental illnesses who entered illegally
- Wants to return to his stricter border policies from his presidency
- "We're destroying our country. This is a sin. What's been allowed to take place over the last four years," Trump states
- Claims current policies are overwhelming public services and taking resources from citizens
Marijuana Legalization (33:02)
Trump expresses a cautiously supportive stance on marijuana legalization:
- Supports legalizing marijuana if done in a "safe" and controlled way
- Cites Florida as a good model for implementation
- Acknowledges the medical benefits of marijuana
- Indicates he will release more specific policy proposals on the issue
Social Media and Communication (37:04)
Trump discusses his use of social media, particularly his Truth Social platform:
- Defends his provocative posts, saying reposts cause more trouble than original posts
- Sees social media as his "typewriter" to get messages out quickly and widely
- "Truth has become a very successful platform and I like doing it. And it goes everywhere," Trump says
- Acknowledges occasionally regretting posts, but stands by the overall strategy
Political Division in America (39:04)
Trump addresses the issue of political division in the country:
- Blames the current administration for division
- Offers little in terms of how he would unify the country beyond removing them from office
- Defends his critical rhetoric as necessary to counter attacks from opponents
- Argues that his policies and leadership would inherently reduce division
Power and Potential for Corruption (49:46)
Trump reflects on the power of the presidency and its potential to corrupt:
- Claims power has not corrupted him
- Cites his decision not to prosecute Hillary Clinton after winning in 2016 as evidence
- "I could have done a big number on Hillary Clinton. I thought it looked terrible to take the president's wife and put her in prison. She's so lucky I didn't do anything," Trump states
- Argues he has been unfairly targeted since leaving office
Mortality and Religion (54:05)
Trump briefly touches on mortality and the role of religion in society:
- Avoids dwelling on his own mortality
- Believes the country needs more religion to provide moral "guardrails" for society
- "I think our country is really missing a lot of religion. I think it really was a much better place with religion," Trump opines
- Suggests that without religion, there are no real moral guardrails in society
Conclusion
The interview with Donald Trump on the Lex Fridman Podcast provides insight into the former president's mindset, policy positions, and approach to leadership as he campaigns for a potential return to the White House. Trump remains steadfast in his criticism of the current administration and his belief that the 2020 election was fraudulent, though he offers little new evidence to support this claim.
Throughout the conversation, Trump emphasizes his deal-making abilities, particularly in relation to ending the Ukraine conflict. He maintains his hardline stance on immigration and border security while showing a more moderate position on marijuana legalization. His use of social media remains a key part of his communication strategy, despite occasional controversies.
Trump's responses often focus more on criticizing his opponents than offering detailed policy proposals or plans for unifying the country. He expresses confidence in his ability to lead and negotiate on the world stage, citing his previous term as evidence. The interview concludes with Trump briefly touching on more personal topics like mortality and the role of religion in society, revealing a desire for more traditional values in American culture.
Overall, the conversation reinforces Trump's well-established public persona and political positions, offering supporters and critics alike a direct look at his current thinking and campaign messaging as he seeks to return to the presidency.