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| 5 Takeaways From The Times’s Interview With President Trump | 5 Takeaways From The Times’s Interview With President Trump |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — President Trump wanted to talk. He initially invited A. G. Sulzberger, the publisher of The New York Times, to an off-the-record dinner. Mr. Sulzberger countered with a request for an on-the-record interview that included Times reporters. The White House accepted. | WASHINGTON — President Trump wanted to talk. He initially invited A. G. Sulzberger, the publisher of The New York Times, to an off-the-record dinner. Mr. Sulzberger countered with a request for an on-the-record interview that included Times reporters. The White House accepted. |
| [Read the full story from our exclusive Oval Office interview.] | |
| Mr. Trump held forth from the Oval Office about the investigation into what he called his “unimportant” business dealings in Russia before he became president; his contact with Roger J. Stone Jr., an informal adviser of many years; his relationship with his top intelligence officials; a handicapping of the 2020 presidential race; and a personal assessment of his first two years in office. | Mr. Trump held forth from the Oval Office about the investigation into what he called his “unimportant” business dealings in Russia before he became president; his contact with Roger J. Stone Jr., an informal adviser of many years; his relationship with his top intelligence officials; a handicapping of the 2020 presidential race; and a personal assessment of his first two years in office. |
| Here are five takeaways from the interview. | Here are five takeaways from the interview. |
| On all matters related to the special counsel’s investigation and questions about his business ties to Russia, Mr. Trump calmly took a nothing-to-see-here approach. | On all matters related to the special counsel’s investigation and questions about his business ties to Russia, Mr. Trump calmly took a nothing-to-see-here approach. |
| He played down his interest in building a skyscraper in Moscow, calling it a “very unimportant deal.” | He played down his interest in building a skyscraper in Moscow, calling it a “very unimportant deal.” |
| He said he never directed Mr. Stone, who was indicted last week, to correspond with WikiLeaks to gain information about hacked Democratic emails. | He said he never directed Mr. Stone, who was indicted last week, to correspond with WikiLeaks to gain information about hacked Democratic emails. |
| Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, has assured Mr. Trump’s lawyers that he is not a target of the inquiry by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, the president said. And he added that he was not engaging in witness tampering when he suggested that the father-in-law of Michael Cohen, his former lawyer and fixer, should be investigated. | Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, has assured Mr. Trump’s lawyers that he is not a target of the inquiry by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, the president said. And he added that he was not engaging in witness tampering when he suggested that the father-in-law of Michael Cohen, his former lawyer and fixer, should be investigated. |
| “I had no money invested,” Mr. Trump said of the Moscow project. His lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani stated at one point that Mr. Trump was involved in discussions to build a Moscow tower throughout the 2016 presidential campaign. But Mr. Trump said that Mr. Giuliani “was incorrect” and “was wrong.” | “I had no money invested,” Mr. Trump said of the Moscow project. His lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani stated at one point that Mr. Trump was involved in discussions to build a Moscow tower throughout the 2016 presidential campaign. But Mr. Trump said that Mr. Giuliani “was incorrect” and “was wrong.” |
| Mr. Trump said at first that he “didn’t see” Mr. Stone’s indictment, which indicated that a senior campaign official was directed by an unnamed person to contact Mr. Stone about additional WikiLeaks releases that might prove damaging to the Clinton campaign. | Mr. Trump said at first that he “didn’t see” Mr. Stone’s indictment, which indicated that a senior campaign official was directed by an unnamed person to contact Mr. Stone about additional WikiLeaks releases that might prove damaging to the Clinton campaign. |
| But he later appeared to contradict himself, noting, “I know what was in the indictment — if you read it there was no collusion with Russia.” | But he later appeared to contradict himself, noting, “I know what was in the indictment — if you read it there was no collusion with Russia.” |
| On Tuesday, top United States intelligence officials released their annual “Worldwide Threat Assessment,” which concluded that North Korea was unlikely to give up its nuclear stockpiles, Iran did not appear to be taking steps to make a nuclear bomb and the Islamic State would continue its aggression in Syria. All those assertions directly contradicted Mr. Trump’s foreign policy positions. | On Tuesday, top United States intelligence officials released their annual “Worldwide Threat Assessment,” which concluded that North Korea was unlikely to give up its nuclear stockpiles, Iran did not appear to be taking steps to make a nuclear bomb and the Islamic State would continue its aggression in Syria. All those assertions directly contradicted Mr. Trump’s foreign policy positions. |
| The president was initially displeased. “Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!” Mr. Trump tweeted Wednesday. He also said then that he was not happy with either the director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, or the C.I.A. director, Gina Haspel. | The president was initially displeased. “Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!” Mr. Trump tweeted Wednesday. He also said then that he was not happy with either the director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, or the C.I.A. director, Gina Haspel. |
| By Thursday, all was forgiven, the president said. He said the intelligence officials assured him, “Sir, our testimony was totally mischaracterized.” The president said that after he read the testimony, he felt they were on the same page. | By Thursday, all was forgiven, the president said. He said the intelligence officials assured him, “Sir, our testimony was totally mischaracterized.” The president said that after he read the testimony, he felt they were on the same page. |
| He also presented reporters a printout of a tweet sent during the interview — “sometimes I dictate tweets,” he said — that featured of a photo of his earlier meeting with intelligence chiefs. | He also presented reporters a printout of a tweet sent during the interview — “sometimes I dictate tweets,” he said — that featured of a photo of his earlier meeting with intelligence chiefs. |
| Mr. Trump, who struck a deal with Democrats last Friday to open the government temporarily, seemed to dismiss the idea that an agreement could be reached over his demand for funding for a wall along the southwestern border. The president said he would wait to act until the continuing resolution to fund the government expires on Feb. 15, but then called the wait “a waste of time.” | Mr. Trump, who struck a deal with Democrats last Friday to open the government temporarily, seemed to dismiss the idea that an agreement could be reached over his demand for funding for a wall along the southwestern border. The president said he would wait to act until the continuing resolution to fund the government expires on Feb. 15, but then called the wait “a waste of time.” |
| He again hinted that he had already made his mind up and that he was satisfied with his characterization of a crisis at the border. When asked if he would declare a national emergency to try to secure his demand for funding, Mr. Trump said, “I’ve set the table. I’ve set the stage for doing what I’m going to do.” | He again hinted that he had already made his mind up and that he was satisfied with his characterization of a crisis at the border. When asked if he would declare a national emergency to try to secure his demand for funding, Mr. Trump said, “I’ve set the table. I’ve set the stage for doing what I’m going to do.” |
| The president, who has recently tempered his criticism of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s negotiation skills, used stronger language on Thursday, saying that he had gotten along with her in the past, but no longer. | The president, who has recently tempered his criticism of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s negotiation skills, used stronger language on Thursday, saying that he had gotten along with her in the past, but no longer. |
| “I think she’s doing a tremendous disservice to the country,” Mr. Trump said. | “I think she’s doing a tremendous disservice to the country,” Mr. Trump said. |
| The president has been keeping an eye on potential Democratic challengers in 2020 — “they’ve really drifted far left” — taking particular note, approvingly, of Senator Kamala Harris of California. Ms. Harris has been credited with a strong rollout that included numerous news appearances nationwide and a town hall-style meeting in Iowa broadcast on CNN. | The president has been keeping an eye on potential Democratic challengers in 2020 — “they’ve really drifted far left” — taking particular note, approvingly, of Senator Kamala Harris of California. Ms. Harris has been credited with a strong rollout that included numerous news appearances nationwide and a town hall-style meeting in Iowa broadcast on CNN. |
| Of the potential opponents who have announced their bids so far, Mr. Trump said “I would say the best opening so far would be Kamala Harris,” adding, “Better crowd. Better enthusiasm.” | Of the potential opponents who have announced their bids so far, Mr. Trump said “I would say the best opening so far would be Kamala Harris,” adding, “Better crowd. Better enthusiasm.” |
| He then said of Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, resurrecting a derisive nickname for her, “I do think Elizabeth Warren has been hurt very badly with the Pocahontas trap.” He added, “I may be wrong about that.” | He then said of Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, resurrecting a derisive nickname for her, “I do think Elizabeth Warren has been hurt very badly with the Pocahontas trap.” He added, “I may be wrong about that.” |
| The president also expressed confidence that he would not have a serious rival in the Republican primary race. | The president also expressed confidence that he would not have a serious rival in the Republican primary race. |
| “I don’t see it,” Mr. Trump said, before adding, “I guess anything is possible.” | “I don’t see it,” Mr. Trump said, before adding, “I guess anything is possible.” |
| Mr. Trump said that he was planning to run for re-election, and that there would be no point at which he had decided he had accomplished enough. | Mr. Trump said that he was planning to run for re-election, and that there would be no point at which he had decided he had accomplished enough. |
| “It’s a very big job,” he said, “and there’s a lot to do.” But Mr. Trump also suggested that the presidency had been “more of a burden on me than other presidents,” and accused his predecessors of artificial achievements that did not amount to the work he had done to produce a healthy economy. | “It’s a very big job,” he said, “and there’s a lot to do.” But Mr. Trump also suggested that the presidency had been “more of a burden on me than other presidents,” and accused his predecessors of artificial achievements that did not amount to the work he had done to produce a healthy economy. |
| “I don’t know if I should love doing it, but I love doing it,” he said. | “I don’t know if I should love doing it, but I love doing it,” he said. |
| He said that he would be focusing on national security “very much” should he win a second term. Later, he again reminisced about his life as a businessman and mused about the money he has lost since assuming the presidency. | He said that he would be focusing on national security “very much” should he win a second term. Later, he again reminisced about his life as a businessman and mused about the money he has lost since assuming the presidency. |
| “This is, this is one of the great losers of all time,” Mr. Trump said. “You know, fortunately, I don’t need money. This is one of the great losers of all time.” | “This is, this is one of the great losers of all time,” Mr. Trump said. “You know, fortunately, I don’t need money. This is one of the great losers of all time.” |