Donald Trump's Latest Interview Is Turning Heads
The world is well acquainted with hearing head-turning comments from former President Donald Trump. From airing out his drama on Twitter to making downright bizarre claims — like suggesting bleach may be ingested to kill coronavirus inside the body — Trump has definitely left a few people puzzled following his comments.
When his job as the President of the United States ended in January 2021, though, Trump seemed to be more silent than ever. This was in part due to his Twitter account being indefinitely banned after he was accused of inciting the violence that occurred at the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. However, he was still fairly quiet, considering he set up The Office of the Former President to manage his "correspondence, public statements, appearances, and official activities to advance the interests of the United States and to carry on the agenda of the Trump Administration through advocacy, organizing, and public activism," as reported by Reuters.
Trump stepped out from the shadows of his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, though, to comment on the death of his friend and supporter political commentator Rush Limbaugh on Feb. 17, 2021. Aside from commenting on his friend's death, he took the opportunity to mention his current and future plans, as well as offer his opinion on President Joe Biden — and his statements are turning some heads.
Donald Trump has some choice words for Joe Biden
In a Feb. 17, 2021 interview with Newsmax, former President Donald Trump reacted to President Joe Biden's comments about not having a COVID-19 vaccine available as he stepped into office. According to the Daily Mail, Biden said in a CNN Town Hall on February 16 that there was no coronavirus vaccine available when he came into office. "It's one thing to have the vaccine — which we didn't have when we came into office — but a vaccinator: How do you get the vaccine into someone's arm?" he explained.
In response to Biden's statement, Trump told Newsmax that Americans were receiving "millions of shots, millions of doses," under his administration. "So he was either not telling the truth or he's mentally gone. One or the other," he concluded.
Trump continued to rip into the current president but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. "He made the statement that we had literally, quote, we had no vaccine. He is getting lit up on that one," he stated. "Maybe, let's give him the benefit of the doubt — could he be joking? Because frankly that was a very dumb statement." However, not all of Trump's fans were willing to do the same. "I vote mentally gone," one Twitter user wrote in response to the interview.
In addition to frowning upon Biden, Trump also took aim at Twitter during his lineup of interviews that day.
Twitter won't be seeing Donald Trump any time soon
As mentioned above, Donald Trump was banned from Twitter on Jan. 8, 2021 after he was seen by many as an instigator of the riot that took place in the U.S. Capitol building two days prior. While the suspension is permanent, many have wondered if Trump would someday be allowed to return to the platform. However, Trump has confirmed that even if given the opportunity, he is done with Twitter.
"If you look at what's going on with Twitter, I understand it's become very boring and millions of people are leaving," he told Newsmax on Feb. 17, 2021. "They are leaving it, because it's not the same. And I can understand that." He then stated that it was "disgraceful" that the platform was "flagging almost anything" he said.
The celebrity-turned-politician also suggested that he was too popular for the app. "We were about as big as it gets. And likewise on Facebook," he said. "Part of the problem is mechanically they can't handle it, it's too many people. It's bigger than they are by many times."
Trump's Twitter ban caused quite the commotion amongst his fans and opposers, and his comments showed that many are still torn about the situation. "Tell him it's a dream without him!!!!" one user tweeted. Another person, however, agreed with Trump and said the ban caused Twitter to be "very boring."
Will Donald Trump run in 2024?
Now that former President Donald Trump has been acquitted by the U.S. Senate of any fault involving the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, he could officially run for president in 2024. However, with America being more split than ever (he was only 10 votes short of being convicted for the riot), people have questioned whether the New York native could pull off another election victory.
Newsmax asked Trump about the 2024 election and if he planned to run, but Trump did not have a solid answer. "I won't say yet. But we have tremendous support," he answered. He then went on to say he has become more popular since his historic second impeachment. Contrarily, a January 2021 Pew Research Center study showed that 68 percent of American voters believe Trump "should not continue to be a major national political figure for many years to come."
Trump's comments about a possible run for the 2024 presidency were also met with mixed emotions. "I pray he runs," one fan tweeted. "Again he was one of the best president's for our country we need a leader that isn't bought and paid for by anyone." However, many were quick to oppose the thought of Trump running again. "Hopefully he's in prison by then," another person wrote.
Although Trump has been quieter than usual, it's clear he still has plenty to say, and people have plenty to say about him.