Trump freestyles on Stormy Daniels, potential pardons for Cohen and Manafort in morning comments
On his way to the G7 summit in Quebec, President Trump stopped to share his thoughts on everything from boxer Muhammad Ali to attorney Michael Cohen.
Trump spoke with reporters outside the White House on Friday, expressing high hopes for the summit while also revealing a number of his plans for future pardons and policies.
He called for Russia to be reinstated to the group of nations that attend the summit, even though he said he has been Russia's worst nightmare. "It used to be G8, now Russia is out," he said. "Russia should be in the meeting." Trump pledged to leave Quebec with "a better deal," condemning the "unfair trade practices" between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, and the European Union.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Besides the summit, Trump opened up to reporters about decisions at the White House. He said that he was considering a posthumous pardon for boxing champion Muhammad Ali, who was convicted after refusing to serve in the military in Vietnam. On the topic of pardons, Trump defended his "absolute right" to pardon himself, but said he'd "never have to do it because I didn't do anything wrong." He said he "hasn't even thought about" pardoning former campaign manager Paul Manafort and attorney Michael Cohen, pointing out that they haven't been convicted of anything. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' fate was left unclear: "We'll see what happens," Trump said when asked about whether he'd fire him.
Trump also addressed first lady Melania Trump's long absence from the public eye, revealing that her May operation was "a four-hour procedure" that left her unable to travel for a month. He offered his opinion on attorney Rudy Giuliani's Stormy Daniels comments that reportedly irked the first lady, saying that he was "not going to disagree" with Giuliani that being a porn star is not respectable. Watch some of Trump's wide-ranging comments at CBS News.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Global court issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Speed Read The International Criminal Court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stand accused of war crimes
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz bows out, Trump pivots to Pam Bondi
Speed Read Gaetz withdrew from attorney generation consideration, making way for longtime Trump loyalist Pam Bondi
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published