A notable encounter transpired between the President-elect Donald Trump and Kristen Welker from NBC’s Meet the Press. This marked Trump’s first televised interview on a major network following his victory over VP Kamala Harris in the November electoral showdown. As Trump readies himself to step back into the White House this January, speculations are rife regarding his intentions as the new President with VP J.D. Vance flanking him.
Trump addressed various pressing topics during his mid-December interview, encompassing areas like abortion, immigration policies, tariffs, along with his much-debated administration selections. Not shy to talk about his foreign affairs approach, certain aspects of the interview carry weight as he gears up for his second presidency.
In view of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 cancellation of Roe v. Wade, Trump has frequently acknowledged his agreement with the decision. The subsequent 2024 election saw abortion serving as a pivotal point of contention. Trump, alongside Vance, firmly stood against instituting a federal ban on abortion in stark contrast to opponents Harris and VP nominee Tim Walz, who prognosticated stricter restrictions on abortion rights under Trump’s potential re-election.
Answering queries revolving around restricting access to abortion pills, Trump opted to maintain continuity in his stance. His comments juxtaposed Vance’s attempts to strike a moderate tone regarding abortion during the vice-presidential debate, where the latter stressed the need for the Republican party to regain America’s trust on this sensitive issue.
With the high-profile hush-money trial featuring Trump behind us, Welker forwarded a question about pardoning the individuals involved in the Jan. 6 riots. Trump assured close scrutiny on potential pardons related to the Jan. 6 incident, stating his readiness to view individual cases swiftly. Trump seemed to suggest an immediate sense of urgency about the matter, as many have been incarcerated for a long period.
President-elect Trump additionally commented on the prevailing rumors regarding Biden’s plans to issue preventative pardons to potential political targets. He dismissed the Jan. 6 committee, even enlisting Liz Cheney amongst those deserving penal action for their deeds.
Trump didn’t hesitate while backing his controversial choice of Pete Hegseth, Fox News host, for Secretary of Defense. Despite the surrounding allegations and apprehensions, Trump expressed faith in Hegseth’s acumen and anticipated Senate confirmation. Furthermore, Trump affirmed his selection of Kash Patel for the FBI Director’s role, a decision reflecting his discontentment with current FBI director Christopher Wray.
Attorney General nominee, Pam Bondi, alongside Patel, shoulders the responsibility of deciding whether to prosecute political rivals such as investigator Jack Smith. Trump refrained from forcing his viewpoint, encouraging Bondi to make her own decisions.
In light of past tensions, Trump was asked whether he had any plans to direct Patel against President Joe Biden. The President-elect deemed it more important to steer the nation towards success than dwelling in past conflicts, aligning retribution directly with triumph. He ruled against appointing any special prosecutor to investigate Biden unless something substantial prompted him to reconsider.
Trump seemed unsurprised by Biden’s decision to absolve his son, Hunter Biden, having anticipated such a step. The President-elect suggested it was apparent that Biden wouldn’t miss the chance to grant his son a pardon.
Considering that Trump will be the oldest U.S. President by the end of his term, his health status garnered attention during the elections. Following Harris’s example of releasing a medical report, Trump affirmed his readiness to publicly share his full medical records.
In health care matters, Trump didn’t mince his words expressing dissatisfaction with Obamacare but stopped short of detailing his own healthcare reform plan. Resilient about finding a better answer as opposed to Obamacare, he showed willingness in extending his proposition to the Democrats and all concerned parties.
Trump’s proposal of tariffs on goods from key trading partners like Mexico, Canada, and China stirred profound discussions. Despite experts warning about a potential impact on prices of imported goods, Trump remained resolute in his belief that tariffs would economically benefit the nation.
On immigration, Trump intends to prioritize this issue upon his return to the White House. He affirmed his commitment to deport illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds first, ultimately aiming for all illegal immigrants’ expulsion. His plan to keep families intact implied a collective deportation strategy, while showing openness to working out a plan for Dreamers, offering them a chance to stay in the U.S.