Trump Discusses Late-Night Tweet Habits and Mentions Jeffrey Epstein During Interview on Lex Fridman's Podcast
Revised Article:
In a recent chat on Lex Fridman's podcast, former President Donald Trump discussed various topics, highlighting his increasing realization of the importance of internet-based media for reaching the public in the 2024 election. Trump's appearance on Fridman's podcast, while not his first podcast, is one of the larger ones, rivaling his appearance on the tech-focused All-In podcast back in June. Potential invites from Joe Rogan may yet push it further up the ranks.
Fridman tackled topics ranging from psychedelic drugs, the war in Ukraine, and the possibility of secret alien files' release, to Trump's midnight ramblings on Truth Social. Trump expressed his love for typing on his social media platform at all hours, but criticized himself for posting after 3 a.m. ET, an unusual hour for most people. However, the former president's late-night posts often veer into the unhinged, he admitted.
"Trump was 'texting' at three o'clock in the morning," Trump joked, imitating what he presumed reporters say. "And there should be no problem with that. When they think about time zones, how do they know about, like, you know, in a time zone, like an Eastern zone?"
Throughout the interview, Trump seemed to stumble on his words, frequently misstating facts and historical events. He mistakenly referred to his appearance on "The Answer" with Rosie O'Donnell, when he meant the famous daytime talk show "The View." Furthermore, Trump suggested he might release files on the late Jeffrey Epstein if he regains the presidency.
Epstein, however, was not just a friend of Trump; they were often seen together in the 1990s in a most uncomfortable and lecherous fashion, as video evidence suggests. So, it is unlikely that Trump will release any files about Epstein that the United States government may have.
Fridman promoted Trump as a skilled negotiator while simultaneously trying to normalize him as just another politician. Fridman called Trump a "great dealmaker" and even seemed to offer political strategies, suggesting that Trump excels when discussing a positive vision for the future.
Yet, this is exactly where the danger of interviews like these lies. While Trump typically appears on Fox News or right-wing podcasts, his audience is already supportive. Fridman's audience, however, may include apolitical individuals who might perceive this interview as an endorsement of Trump as a regular, ordinary politician—a far cry from reality.
Trump is far from ordinary; he is a wannabe fascist and an adjudicated rapist. His vision for the country involves breaking up families, denying women access to healthcare, and, tragically, executing people he considers traitors. Unfortunately, Fridman's interview failed to challenge Trump on these matters, instead serving as a vessel for perpetuating Trump's dangerous ideology.
The podcast is available on YouTube, but for those short on time, a summary can be found below:
- Trump spoke eloquently about newer forms of media, providing insights such as, "The whole plane of platform is evolving a lot."
- Fridman posed questions about how Trump would negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, to which Trump responded with his usual unspecific and vague answers.
- Trump expressed dissatisfaction with CNN's "softball" interview with Harris, only to find himself partaking in an equally favorable conversation with Fridman.
- Trump asserted the possibility of World War III.
- Trump accused his Vice President of being a "coup" and voiced concerns about Biden's mental capacity.
- Trump repeated his fabricated claims about the 2024 election being a "fraud."
- Trump insisted undocumented immigrants vote in elections, a false assertion.
- Trump claimed that other countries are emptying their mental institutions into the United States, a baseless fear-mongering claim.
- Trump described the attempt on his life as an "unpleasant experience."
- Fridman asked Trump about Project 2025, but the former president admitted he had not read the policy document in its entirety.
- Trump contradictorily expressed support for the legalization of medical cannabis but disapproved of recreational weed.
- Trump appeared confused when Fridman discussed the spiritual benefits of ayahuasca for members of Congress.
- Trump hinted at a potential Joe Rogan podcast appearance without expressing enthusiasm.
- Trump acknowledged that his Truth Social posts sometimes get him in trouble, failing to see how his normal posts are just as divisive and brutal.
- Trump denied calling dead soldiers "suckers and losers."
- Trump furiously defended himself against allegations of being a Communist, made against Vice President Kamala Harris.
- Trump advocated for fighting fire with fire when facing opposition.
- Trump praised authoritarian leaders, such as Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
- Trump asserted that NATO would not exist without him.
- Trump boasted about gaining more publicity than any other individual.
- Trump stated that heaven is the ultimate destination for those who are good, ignoring the religious complexities and nuances inherent in such a statement.
- Trump defended his use of Arlington National Cemetery as a backdrop for his campaign commercial, arguing that it was appropriate in light of his military background.
- In one of the few direct moments of the interview, Fridman posted a question about Trump's hesitation regarding the release of Epstein-related documents, to which Trump replied that he didn't experience any hesitation and maintained that his association with Epstein remained non-existent.
One of the funniest remarks made during the interview came from Trump himself: "I don't talk about the past, I talk about the future," he quipped. In reality, Trump spends an inordinate amount of time reminiscing about past grievances and suppressing any references to his election loss in 2020. The consequences of re-election for Trump and our nation, however, are far from amusing—they represent a grave threat to the country's safety and security.
As of now, Trump finds himself trailing Kamala Harris in polls. Harris has managed to take a commanding lead in national polls, as well as slight leads in most battleground states, across several different pollsters. Yet, it's the people's votes that will truly decide the election in November. And, despite Fridman's support, it remains unclear whether he will be among the voters swayed by Trump's interview. But, as with the past, such interviews may still unwittingly benefit Trump more than any single vote ever could.
- The discussion on Lex Fridman's podcast in 2024 might find Trump promoting technology as a crucial tool for reaching voters during his potential presidency.
- Fridman, despite his apolitical stance, may unintentionally normalize Trump as a regular political figure, influencing his audience in the future.
- In the podcast, Trump stated that he spends more time discussing the future rather than dwelling on the past, despite his reputation for focusing on past grievances.
- Trump's claim about other countries emptying their mental institutions into the United States was again baseless fear-mongering, adding to his history of misleading statements.
