From Iran to mending fences: Top 5 takeaways from Trump’s interview with ex-foe Michael Cohen

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump and Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer turned political foe and key witness in his New York criminal trial, have publicly reunited for the first time in eight years.

Cohen hosted Trump on his 77 WABC radio show in a conversation that followed a bitter break between the two men and their recent reconciliation. In the first part of the interview released on Thursday, August 20, Trump discussed Iran, the US economy, immigration and his own political standing. Here are five key takeaways from the interview. 

Trump and Cohen resuscitate their relationship

The interview opened with Cohen acknowledging the history between the two men, telling Trump, “You and I have obviously traveled a pretty rocky road together.”

Trump responded by praising his former lawyer and saying he had been treated unfairly by prosecutors. “They weaponized you like nobody’s ever been weaponized,” Trump said. “I respect the fact that you recanted everything you said.”

Cohen was once one of Trump’s closest aides but later became a key witness in Trump’s 2024 New York hush money trial. Cohen has since said he felt pressured and coerced to testify against the president. The pair began reconnecting this year, with Cohen, right before the interview, describing their relationship as having been “resuscitated.”

The interview marked the first extended public interaction between Trump and Cohen since their 2018 fallout.

Trump defends his Iran war strategy

Trump also used the interview to defend the ongoing US military campaign against Iran, saying the country’s military and leadership had been severely weakened.

“We’re doing very well with Iran,” Trump said. “The navy’s gone, the air force is gone, the leadership is gone.”

The president also reiterated that the US is "essentially controlling" the Strait of Hormuz and that “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.” Trump acknowledged that the conflict could affect energy and gasoline prices but argued such consequences were necessary.

Trump calls US economy a 'renaissance'

Trump described the US economy as undergoing a “renaissance” and compared his current economic record with his first term.

“There’s never been anything like it,” Trump said. “We had the greatest economy ever in my first term. This is going to blow it away.”

Trump highlighted domestic semiconductor and pharmaceutical production, arguing that his tariffs had encouraged companies to expand their factories domestically. However, his assessment contrasts with recent polling showing that many Americans believe economic conditions have worsened during his second term.

Trump claims he 'solved' southern border in 60 days

Trump said his administration quickly brought the US-Mexico border under control after he returned to office.

“I solved the problem in 30 days and solved it beautifully in 60,” Trump said.

Trump also claimed that “zero people came in” through the southern border over the previous 16 months. Customs and Border Protection has reported months with zero releases at the border.

Trump claims he can win a third term by 25 points

Trump also offered his assessment of his political standing, telling Cohen that he believed he would win by a wide margin if he were running for president today.

“I think that we’re doing really well in the polls, the real polls,” Trump said.

“If I were running today, I think I’d win by 25 points,” Trump added. “I think we’d win by a lot. We’re doing numbers that nobody’s ever seen before.”

The first portion of the recorded interview ran for about 15 minutes, with the remainder scheduled for release on Sunday, August 22.