'He's a good guy…': Trump, Mohammed bin Salman's secret chat caught live | Hot mic bombshell

Key Concepts

• US-Saudi Relations: Trump's positive assessment of his relationship with Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
• Presidential Diplomacy: Contrasting Trump's handshake with MBS to Biden's fist bump.
• Federal Reserve Chair Appointment: Trump's process and thoughts on selecting a new Fed chair, criticizing the current one.
• Venezuelan Relations: Trump's stance on talking to Nicolás Maduro and his criticism of Venezuelan immigration policies.
• Border Security: Trump's claims of strong border control under his administration.
• Jeffrey Epstein Files: Trump's defense against accusations related to Epstein, labeling the inquiry a "Democrat hoax," and pointing fingers at other prominent figures.
• Media Criticism: Trump's strong condemnation of specific reporters and news organizations, particularly ABC.

US-Saudi Relations and Presidential Diplomacy

During a joint press conference at the White House, US President Donald Trump publicly praised Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), describing him as "a good guy." Trump emphasized the strength of the US-Saudi relationship under his presidency, contrasting it with what he perceived as weaker relationships during the Obama and Biden administrations. He recounted an anecdote where he asked MBS who the best president for Saudi Arabia was, outside of Trump himself, and MBS reportedly mentioned Reagan as a historical figure with close ties.

Trump also highlighted his diplomatic approach, specifically mentioning his handshake with MBS. He contrasted this with a "fist bump" reportedly given by Biden upon disembarking from a plane, suggesting that a handshake is a more appropriate gesture of respect when meeting a "future king" and a "respected person." Trump stated, "I grab that hand. I don't give a hell where that hand's been."

Federal Reserve Chair Appointment

When questioned about the process of interviewing candidates for the Federal Reserve Chair position, Trump indicated that he had already interviewed various individuals and had a preferred choice. He mentioned that his preferred candidate might not take the job, preferring a role in the Treasury. Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the current Fed Chair, calling his performance a "terrible job" and criticizing his interest rate policies as "stupidity" and being "too late." He referred to the current Fed Chair as "Jerome Toule foul," implying he was a poor recommendation. Despite this, Trump claimed that the Fed's actions had "very little impact" due to other positive economic factors. He mentioned considering both "surprising names" and "standard names," and acknowledged the possibility of choosing a "standard" candidate, while also noting the appeal of not always being "politically correct."

Venezuelan Relations and Border Security

Regarding potential talks with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump stated he was "open to talk" but criticized Venezuela's past treatment of the US. He specifically accused Maduro of sending "prison population into the United States" and facilitating drug trafficking. Trump asserted that under his administration, the US had "the strongest borders anywhere in the world," claiming that "nobody's coming in unless they come in legally," and contrasting this with "very weak borders where millions of people came in for the last 6 months." He cited reports indicating "zero people have been able to come in" recently.

Jeffrey Epstein Files and Media Criticism

Trump vehemently defended himself against questions concerning the Jeffrey Epstein files, labeling the inquiry a "Democrat hoax" designed to prevent him from discussing economic issues, specifically mentioning "$21 trillion." He claimed to have "nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein," stating he had expelled him from his club years prior due to his perceived "sick pervert" nature. Trump then shifted blame, pointing to figures like Bill Clinton and Larry Summers, who he alleged were close associates of Epstein, spending "every single night" and "every single weekend" with him and visiting his island.

Trump also launched a strong attack on a reporter and their news organization, ABC, calling the reporter a "terrible reporter" and a "terrible person" for their questioning style. He accused ABC of being a "crappy company" and a "perpetrator" of fake news, suggesting their broadcasting license should be revoked. He argued that ABC's "97% negative to Trump" coverage, despite his electoral victory, demonstrated their lack of credibility. Trump further alleged that Epstein had given money to Democrats, not to him, and that "people are wise to yolks." He also criticized "Reed Hoffman" for spending "a lot of money on the radical left" and suggested he should be under investigation. Trump concluded by stating that the reporter should "go back and learn how to be a reporter."