Trump refers to Vance and Rubio as his ‘kids’, gifts them 'shoes', reveal NYT reporters

WASHINGTON, DC : The New York Times reporters Katie Rogers and Tyler Pager have revealed unusual behind-the-scenes details from their recent interview with President Donald Trump, including moments where the president referred to Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his 'kids'.

The details were shared by Rogers and Pager in The New York Times’ live blog recounting their wide-ranging interview with Trump, which focused on major issues such as the Minneapolis ICE shooting and US actions in Venezuela.

Reporters reveal amusing details

Rogers wrote that as Trump interacted with aides and advisers during the interview, he repeatedly referred to several of them as 'kids,' including two of the most senior officials in his administration.

“As the president interacted with his aides and advisers during our time with him, he referred to several of them as ‘kids,’” Rogers wrote.

 “This included two of the most powerful figures in the federal government: Vice President JD Vance, 41, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is 54.”

According to the reporters, the exchange took a lighter turn when the two officials showed off their footwear, revealing that the shoes had been purchased by Trump. 

Rogers wrote that “Vance lifted his leg in the air to show the president the pair he was wearing.”

Pager added further detail, writing that “Rubio and Vance said they each received four pairs of shoes from the president.”

He noted that both men were wearing 'black dress shoes with slightly different designs,' and that 'one of the pairs they received were tuxedo shoes.'

Trump on limits to presidential power

Rogers and Pager interviewed Trump by phone on Wednesday.

In the same interview, Trump made striking comments about the limits or lack thereof on his authority.

Asked whether there were any constraints on his global power, Trump told the reporters: “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”

“I don’t need international law,” Trump added. “I’m not looking to hurt people.”

When pressed further about whether international law applied to his administration’s actions, Trump said, “I do,” but suggested that interpretation was subjective. “It depends what your definition of international law is,” he said.