President Trump took part in a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times on Wednesday, in which he railed against members of his…
President Trump took part in a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times on Wednesday, in which he railed against members of his own administration and held court on a variety of other topics.
Among other things, Trump warned Special Counsel Robert Mueller not to investigate his family’s finances and revealed he thought Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jeff Sessions 8 things you might have missed in latest Trump interview Trump has confidence in Sessions, White House says Your income paid for welfare fraud from sea to shining sea MORE’ recusal in the Russia probe was “unfair” to him.
Here are a few surprising moments from the interview you may have missed.
Democrats « owned » Nebraska
Trump said at the beginning of the interview that Democrats at one point “owned” the state of Nebraska and “gave it away.”
The president was referring to former President Obama’s healthcare reform proposal that originally guaranteed funds to Nebraska as part of the deal to pass ObamaCare. The deal, known as the “cornhusker kickback, ” was used to win over then-Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) .
“Their best senator did one of the greatest deals in the history of politics. What happened to him?” Trump said. Both Nebraska senators are now Republicans.
Young people pay $12 for health insurance
The president made the surprising claim that 21-year-olds in the ObamaCare insurance market pay just $12 for health insurance.
“So pre-existing conditions are a tough deal. Because you are basically saying from the moment the insurance, you’ re 21 years old, you start working and you’ re paying $12 a year for insurance, and by the time you’ re 70, you get a nice plan, ” he said.
Trump made a similar claim during an interview with The Economist in May.
Trump gets great « reviews » overseas
The president boasted about perceptions of him abroad, telling the reporter he’s “had the best reviews” overseas. He cited his recent trips to Poland and France.
He went on to say French President Emmanuel Macron liked him so much that he invited him to France’s Bastille Day celebrations in Paris commemorating the 100 th anniversary of the U. S. entrance into World War I.
“That’s big. And I said yes. I mean, I have a great relationship with him. He’s a great guy, ” he said.
Macron loves to hold Trump’s hand
Trump praised Macron, adding that the French leader “loves” to hold his hand.
« He’s a great guy — smart, strong, he loves holding my hand, » the president said.
« People don’ t realize, he loves holding my hand. And that’s good!” he continued.
Footage of an extended handshake between the two leaders during Trump’s first official visit to Paris went viral.
The two leaders also shared an intense handshake during the NATO summit in May. Macron later said it was a deliberate show of resolve.
Napoleon and Hitler merit comparison
The president discussed the legendary leader Napoleon Bonaparte during the interview, recalling when he visited the French emperor’s tomb in Paris.
“Well, Napoleon finished a little bit bad. But I asked that. So I asked the president, so what about Napoleon? [Macron] said: ‘No, no, no. What he did was incredible. He designed Paris,’ ” he said.
Trump went on to praise the leader’s achievements, but then acknowledged Bonaparte’s and Adolf Hitler’s failed military campaigns in Russia.
“Same thing happened to Hitler. Not for that reason, though. Hitler wanted to consolidate. He was all set to walk in. But he wanted to consolidate, and it went and dropped to 35 degrees below zero, and that was the end of that army, ” he said.
The president also marveled at “amazing” Russia’s military achievements, saying “they’ ve won five wars where the armies that went against them froze to death.”
Arabella Kushner wanders into Oval Office
The president’s granddaughter Arabella Kushner made a surprise appearance during the interview, which was in the Oval Office, along with her mother Ivanka Trump.
Trump told his granddaughter to say hello to The New York Times reporters in Chinese, which she did. She also told Trump, “I love you, grandpa » in Chinese before she left the room.
“She’s unbelievable, huh?” Trump said.
“Good, smart genes, » he added.
Japan’s first lady does not speak English
Trump said during the interview the first lady of Japan, Akie Abe, “doesn’ t speak English, ” despite videos showing her speaking English .
Trump was seated next to the Japanese first lady at a dinner at the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, along with a translator.
He said Abe, who he called « a terrific woman, » does not know how to say hello.
The Russian investigation is « not an investigation »
Trump said the federal probe into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russian election meddling “was not an investigation” and “not on him.”
However, it was reported in June the president was under investigation for obstruction of justice.
The Justice Department’s Special Counsel Robert Mueller is now reportedly looking into the president’s business transactions as a part of the Russia probe, according to Bloomberg.
