Short Summary
In October 2024, just weeks before the
2024 presidential election, former President Donald Trump appeared on the Flagrant podcast with Andrew Schulz and Akaash Singh, offering comprehensive insights into his campaign platform and personal perspectives. During this extensive conversation, Trump emphasized several key priorities for his 2024 presidential bid: strengthening immigration enforcement (claiming the Biden-Harris administration had allowed "21 million people" to enter illegally), implementing "America First" economic policies (highlighting his previous tariffs on China and trade renegotiations), addressing reproductive rights (supporting state-level abortion regulation with exceptions for rape, incest, and the mother's life, while strongly backing IVF access), and pursuing a foreign policy approach combining personal relationships with world leaders and economic leverage (claiming conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East wouldn't have occurred under his leadership). Trump also provided a detailed firsthand account of surviving the July 2024
assassination attempt at his Butler, Pennsylvania rally, suggesting possible foreign involvement through the shooter's "foreign based apps" that remained uninvestigated. Throughout the interview, the former president defended his distinctive communication style (which he termed "the weave"), maintained his positions on the 2020 election while clarifying he would respect democratic processes in future elections, and articulated his vision for America's restoration under the "Make America Great Again" platform that defined his campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris in the final stretch before November 5th.
Long Summary
Introduction
In the lead-up to the
2024 presidential election, former President Donald Trump appeared on Andrew Schulz's Flagrant podcast with co-host Akaash Singh, providing detailed perspectives on his policy positions, personal experiences, and campaign priorities. This in-depth conversation revealed Trump's stance on immigration, foreign policy, economic approaches, and his reflections on the
assassination attempt he survived during the campaign, offering voters substantial insights into his candidacy against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump's Immigration Focus in the 2024 Campaign
Immigration emerged as a central theme during the interview, reflecting a cornerstone of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign messaging. The former president claimed the Biden-Harris administration had allowed "21 million people into our country in the last three and a half years," emphasizing national security concerns related to illegal immigration.Trump specifically mentioned Venezuela in his immigration critique, stating: "They've taken their criminals off the streets of Caracas, which was a very dangerous city... They've taken all of their criminals, almost all of them, and they brought them into the United States and dumped them." He claimed some of these immigrants had "taken over" Aurora, Colorado, asserting they entered real estate using "military-style weapons."This emphasis on border security and immigration enforcement represented a continuation of themes from Trump's previous campaigns, positioning these issues as key differentiators in the 2024 election cycle.
The Assassination Attempt and Its Impact on the Presidential Race
Trump provided a firsthand account of surviving the July 2024 assassination attempt at his Butler, Pennsylvania rally. He described having "total realization" during the incident rather than experiencing the disorientation often associated with traumatic events, stating: "I knew exactly what had happened. I got shot in the ear."The former president emphasized how narrowly he avoided fatal injury: "If I don't turn, I wouldn't be doing this right now," explaining that turning his head at precisely the right moment saved his life. Trump referenced his son Don Jr.'s assessment that, for a shooter, hitting a target from that distance would be "like sinking a one-foot putt for just a decent shooter."Trump used this discussion to raise questions about potential foreign involvement, noting the shooter had "three or so cell phones" that law enforcement hadn't accessed, along with "three apps" that were "foreign based." He specifically mentioned Iran as a potential threat, stating they "supposedly have a hit on me" due to his tough policies toward the country during his presidency.
Economic Nationalism and Trade Policy for 2024
Trump highlighted his economic approach through discussions of tariffs and trade negotiations, positioning these policies as central to his 2024 platform. He claimed to have "taken in hundreds of billions of dollars from China" through tariffs that "are still there," suggesting the Biden administration hadn't fully leveraged these measures.The former president characterized pre-Trump American trade relationships as exploitative, stating: "We were like a pussycat. We were ripped off by every nation in the world, and some of the worst rippers were our so-called allies." He specifically mentioned renegotiating trade deals with Japan and South Korea, recounting a conversation with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe where he insisted on fairer terms.Trump described confronting German Chancellor Angela Merkel about automotive trade imbalances, asking her "how many Chevrolets do we have in the middle of Berlin?" while noting America "takes in Mercedes Benz, BMW... Volkswagen." This framing of international economic relationships as competitions where America had been losing supported his "America First" economic philosophy that remained central to his 2024 campaign.
Reproductive Rights Position for the 2024 Election
Trump addressed his role in the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, framing it as returning abortion regulation to "the states where it belongs." He emphasized the democratic nature of state-level decision-making, stating: "It's back with the states and it's a vote of the people."The former president highlighted his support for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother's life is at risk, distancing himself from more restrictive positions within his party. "I do believe in exceptions," Trump stated, adding that requiring a woman to carry a pregnancy resulting from rape is something "I can't believe that people are forced to do."Trump particularly emphasized his support for in vitro fertilization (IVF), recounting his intervention when an Alabama judge's ruling threatened fertility clinics. He stated: "I came out strongly in favor on behalf of the Republican Party," positioning himself as more moderate on reproductive technologies than some elements within his party. Trump accused his opponent Kamala Harris of falsely claiming he opposed IVF, calling it an example of political dishonesty.
Foreign Policy Vision in the Presidential Campaign
Trump outlined his foreign policy approach, combining personal relationships with world leaders and economic leverage. He claimed both the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Middle East hostilities would not have occurred under his leadership, stating: "Russia would have never attacked Ukraine if I were president. I used to talk to Putin about it."The former president revealed he had been working toward a nuclear disarmament agreement before leaving office: "We were close to a deal for getting rid of nuclear weapons... We were talking about Russia, ourselves and China." Trump identified nuclear war as "the biggest threat we have in the world today," referencing warnings from his uncle, Dr. John Trump, about nuclear dangers.Trump briefly mentioned his administration's Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations. When asked about Middle East peace prospects, he referenced the saying that "the world will end in the Middle East," adding "we're not going to let that happen."
The 2020 Election and Constitutional Perspectives
Trump maintained his position on the 2020 election, claiming Vice President Pence had the authority to return election results to state legislatures. "He had the right to go and put them before the legislatures and have them reassess," Trump stated, adding that subsequent law changes proved his interpretation was correct: "They changed the law after the election so that he couldn't do what I said he could do."The former president compared Republican challenges to the 2020 election with previous Democratic election challenges, mentioning Maxine Waters and Stacey Abrams specifically. "They've challenged elections... but when we challenge, they say he's a threat to democracy," Trump argued, suggesting a double standard in political discourse.When asked about rumors he wouldn't cede power after winning another election, Trump clarified a statement about voting that had been interpreted as suggesting elections would cease: "Vote this one time. After that, we're not going to need it." He explained he meant that fixing the country's problems would restore stability, not that democratic processes would end.
Communication Style and Personal Reflections
Trump described his distinctive communication approach as "the weave," explaining: "You weave things and you do it. You have to have certain things. You need an extraordinary memory because you have to come back to where you started." This characterization countered criticisms of his speaking style as rambling, framing it instead as an intentional rhetorical technique.The former president attributed his sense of humor to his Scottish heritage through his mother, who came from "Stornoway, the Hebrides." He noted humor was essential in his position: "In my business, in what I do, if you don't have humor, you won't even survive... I think you have to have a light side. I see a lot of dark things."When discussing his family, Trump contrasted his supportive parenting approach with other wealthy fathers who compete with their children's success: "My father was so proud of me... he wanted me to be more successful." This perspective on generational relationships connected to his broader themes about American restoration and future prosperity.
Trump's Vision for America in the 2024 Presidential Election
Trump concluded the interview by articulating his vision for America's future, centered around his campaign slogan "Make America Great Again." When asked about his desired legacy, Trump responded: "I would like my legacy to be the same as the term MAGA — make America great again."The former president described America as "a nation in decline" but expressed optimism about its potential: "We have tremendous potential." Trump initially considered changing his slogan to "Keep America Great" (KAG) but explained he couldn't use it "because we had so many problems" that needed addressing first.This wide-ranging interview, conducted in the final month before the November 5th election, provided significant insights into Trump's campaign messaging, policy priorities, and personal reflections during the crucial final stretch of the 2024 presidential campaign. His discussions covered immigration, economic policy, foreign affairs, and constitutional questions, illuminating his approach to governance and the contrasts he sought to draw with the Harris campaign in one of the most closely watched presidential elections in recent American history.*There may be errors on this page.