Commentary

NOTE: In an effort to provide you with a reasonable review of the interview I have devoted more space than usual in this edition.  I hope you will find it worth reading.

On May 12, 2024, I referred to TIME magazine’s cover story, “If He Wins,” a look into former President Trump’s second term agenda should he be elected, but only as a lead into my recall of the bombshell cover story, “Against Trump,” featured by National Review in 2016.

Trump sat down for the wide-ranging interview with TIME National Politics Reporter Eric Cortellessa at Mar-A-Lago on April 12, but continued with a follow-up phone conversation on April 27.

The TIME piece is a long read, and I wanted to take the time to get into it, and to balance my thoughts with those of others who read it.  With a notation on the first page of the transcript that it would take 83 minutes to read, and that it was lightly edited for clarity, I printed it and delved into it.

He opened noting what was discussed over the course of the interviews – “deporting millions of people, cutting the U.S. civil service, and intervening more directly in Justice Department prosecutions than his predecessors.

“He also discussed his thinking on other issues, including abortion, crime, trade, Israel, and the prospects for political violence after the election.”

What?!  Energy and drilling wasn’t discussed? 

I began reading. “Let’s start with Day One: January 20, 2025. You have said you will take a suite of aggressive actions on the border and on immigration … you have vowed to … “  Then Trump jumped in with, “And energy .”

“Yes, yes, we’ll come to that,” Cortellessa stopped him, as if wasn’t important.

In addition to the price of gas at the pump, Biden’s overt New Green Deal plan to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and transition to electricity through the use of solar and wind has had a singular negative effect on every day purchases.

As I continued to pore over the transcript my patience bean to wear thin. The inane questions and musings by Cortellessa and the rambling uncut responses by Trump was old news and, frankly, boring.

From the Cover Story to the Sidebar

Flipping back to the opening page, I noticed a sidebar tease heading – “How Far Trump Would Go” – and decided to check it out instead.

As I begin, it appears that this is more of a look at Trump, the man, not his policies. 

Six months from the 2024 election, Cortellessa believes, “Trump is better positioned to win the White House than at any point in either of his previous campaigns.  I wanted to know what Trump would do if he wins a second term, to hear his vision for the nation, in his own words.”  That’s what I was looking for in the cover story.

“Trump remains the same guy, with the same goals and grievances.  But in person, if anything, he appears more assertive and confident,” he wrote.

“When I first got to Washington, I knew very few people,” Trump said, “I had to rely on people.”  Now he’s in charge.

“The advantage I have now I know everybody.  I know people,” Trump said. “I know the good, the bad, the stupid, the smart.  I know everybody.”

“The courts, the Constitution, and a Congress of unknown composition would all have a say in whether Trump’s objectives come to pass,” just as before.

While supporters look to the prospect of Trump 2.0, those on the left see it as the end of our democracy, and the birth of a new kind of authoritarian presidential order.

Kramer Note: Is it any wonder that voters believe democracy is under threat when Biden-Harris keep spouting that nonsense?

Regarding his use of presidential power, Trump has said he would consider pardoning those arrested following the Jan.6 breach of the Capitol.  He has referred to them as “hostages” and “political prisoners.”

On going after Biden,“I wouldn’t want to hurt Biden,” Trump said, “ I have too much respect for the office.”  However, he said Biden’s fate may be tied to an upcoming Supreme Court ruling on immunity.

Trump again reiterated abortion rights are in the hands of the states, and indicated a federal bill will “never happen.”

Finishing the border wall and deporting millions of illegals was discussed first.  Trump believes that there are probably 15 million and maybe as many as 20 million by the time Biden’s term ends.  He says he will undertake the largest deportation in U.S. history, setting up detention camps and utilizing the National Guard.

Trump wisely handled Cortellessa’s questioning on Israel and Ukraine in a manner not to excite either side, but it was clear that he wasn’t entirely pleased with Netanyahu.  His view of NATO, and his insistence that member countries pay their fair share has not changed.

“Toward the end of our conversation, I ask Trump to explain another troubling comment he made: that he wants to be a dictator for a day,” to allay concerns that he would abuse power in his office to seek retribution against political opponents.

How ironic.  That subject finally surfaced two thirds of my way through the cover story, when he mentioned he would be dictator on Day One to resume drilling and restore security to the southern border.  “That was meant to be a joke.  Everybody knows that,” Trump said.

I find it hard to believe that Cortellessa actually thinks people took him seriously, but he said, “Do you see why … okay …  you say you were joking, but do you see why … “ Cortellessa stammered before Trump interrupted with “No, no, wait.  If you read it, it was a joke.”

Cortellessa feebly attempted to allow that Trump may be willing to suspend the Constitution. “No,  the press does,” Trump responded. “That was said in fun, in jest, sarcastically,” as he referred to the time he asked Russia “if you’re listening, you can help us find Hillary Clinton’s lost e-mails.”

“Don’t you see why many Americans see such talk of dictatorship as contrary to our most cherished principles?” he asked.  “No, quite the opposite,” cited Trump. “I think a lot of people like it.”

What Others Said with My Notations

USA Today: “The former president said he wants to pursue a gristly conservative agenda that includes using the U.S. military (no, the National Guard) to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants.

Trump indicated “we have no choice.  I don’t believe this is sustainable for a country.”

“He would deploy the National Guard to quash protests; gut the U.S. civil service; and enforce conditions for U.S. support.

“On protecting abortion rights, Trump pumped the brakes on supporting a national prohibition, telling TIME, “You don’t need a federal ban.”

Massimo Calabresi, TIME’s Washington bureau chief in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper: “Donald Trump thinks he’s identified a crucial mistake of his first tern: he was too nice.  It sets the tone for the whole piece, which is this is the same Donald Trump we’re all very familiar with.

“But he struck Eric Cortellessa, and all of us involved in the piece, as more confident. That confidence, I think, comes from his experience … (and) from having a real plan for the would do if he got in office.”

SLATE: After referring to “a number of alarming tidbits, many of which reaffirm his earlier extreme positions,” Molly Olmstead wrote, “perhaps the most shocking response dealt with a hypothetical” when Cortellessa pushed Trump to take a stance on a federal abortion ban.  Trump refused, insisting that he was leaving that up to the states.”

Although Olmstead voiced a number of typical leftist concerns about Trump, she did quote him correctly on the subject of retribution – “We are going to have a great retribution through success.”

WASHINGTON EXAMINER: After noting that Trump had appeared on the cover of TIME 35 times, it noted Trump’s comment on the cover story, “It’s at least 60 percent correct, which is about all I can ask for.”  The paper’s review of the piece as fair.

CNN: In a lengthy retort by Danel Dale, the leftist network referred to the interview as “Trump’s bombardment of dishonesty,” and cited 32 false claims which I will not cover here.

NEW YORK TIMES: The possible use of the military to detain and deport migrants, permitting states to decide on abortion bans, and hedging on the possibility of political violence after the 2024 election topped Michael Gold’s concerns after reviewing the TIME interview.

WASHINGTON POST: National columnist Phillip Bump, always happy to criticize Trump, saw the interview “As if is often the case … a lot of what Trump is reported as planning to do is constructed from murky, noncommittal answers Trump offered to specific questions.  Bump sees the interview as “very revealing” about Trump’s approach, believing the former president “hasn’t thought much about important issues.”

Of course, he has and is.  He’s too smart to detail his plans for the opposition to pick apart.

Bump, too, was concerned about using the military for deporting migrants and disagrees with Trump’s rhetoric that the migrant inflow has been an “invasion.”

Trump’s joking about being a dictator for one day was “worrisome” to Bump and commented that Trump’s belief that “a lot of people like it” though true, it is “hardly reassuring.”

While not satisfied with Trump’s position on abortion or the possible pardoning of those arrested in the Jan.6 Capitol breach, reflecting on draining the swamp, he referred to Trump’s plan for overhauling government of unelected bureaucrats as “clearly articulated.”

 I regret having convinced myself that reviewing the TIME interview would be important to my readers.  In retrospect, I didn’t learn much, but I hope you have.

May God continue to bless the United States of America