In a recent interview with CNBC, former President Donald Trump offered a critique of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, labeling it as a “dismal performance” by a “visibly frustrated man whose popularity is waning.” However, he remained silent on his own plans for a potential second term.
Throughout the interview, Trump’s responses were characteristically unpredictable. When asked about cryptocurrency policy, he shifted the conversation to the success of his new sneaker line. He acknowledged the potential national security threat posed by TikTok, yet also praised its positive aspects, while labeling its American competitor, Facebook, as “an adversary of the people.”
Trump’s praise for Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán, known for suppressing political opposition and undermining democratic institutions, raised eyebrows. Furthermore, his suggestion that entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security could face cuts sent his campaign into damage control.
Despite attempts by CNBC hosts to pin Trump down on specific issues, his responses remained elusive and provocative. His comments on entitlement cuts, in particular, contradicted his previous promises to protect these programs, providing ammunition for his political opponents.
President Biden swiftly responded to Trump’s comments, assuring a New Hampshire audience that he would never allow cuts to Social Security and Medicare. He pledged to protect and strengthen these programs and ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share.
Trump’s comments on TikTok also caused a stir within the Republican leadership, who have been working to ban the platform in the United States. Trump’s sudden change of stance on the social media platform has left them scrambling to assess the potential fallout.
Trump confirmed meeting with Jeff Yass, a Republican mega-donor and billionaire hedge fund manager known to have a significant stake in TikTok. However, he denied discussing TikTok with Yass, instead focusing on education policies with Yass’s wife.
Despite his limited exposure to mainstream media since leaving the White House, Trump’s CNBC interview offered a glimpse into his current political stance and potential future plans. His comments on the legal challenges he faces bookended the interview, with Trump describing himself as a “pioneer” in the face of indictments and judgments.
The interview concluded with host Joe Kernen thanking Trump and inviting him for future conversations. Trump responded with a simple, “Thank you, everybody.”
Contributions to this report were made by CNN’s Kevin Liptak.