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5 takeaways from Trumps combative Time interview President Trumps 75-minute interview with Time revealed his latest thinking on the Iran war, the AI race (or in his words, SI), the media and more.Why it matters: The interview with one of Americas most historic news publications gives voters insight into the direction of the country roughly a month ahead of the midterms.Driving the news: Trump was unapologetic across the board: on prolonging the Iran war, resisting AI regulation and threatening to "go after" Democrats if they win the House.The interview was historic, too, as it was Trumps 56th appearance on a Time cover, "surpassing President Richard Nixon, who held the record for more than half a century," the magazine says.Here are five takeaways.Trump on Iran:Trump was defiant when asked why the war in Iran had stretched longer than the timeline he originally floated, telling Time, "I could have stopped then, but I wanted to go further."He said the press "fed" Americans his initial prediction of attacks lasting around four to six weeks, a timeline he gave to multiple outlets at the start of the war. He also repeatedly suggested the war was almost over.He reiterated the threat he made before the UN General Assembly that he may "annihilate" Iran.Pressed to square that with the assertion that hes the president of peace, Trump replied, "by annihilating Iran, weve created peace in the world."He also said its "possible" hed ramp up bombing after the midterms, disputing Pentagon reports of a munitions shortfall.Trump on Netanyahu reelection:Trump sidestepped questions about whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be reelected in Israel, with the election just weeks away.He said he was "not involved in politics anymore" but touted his popularity in Israel. Pressed again, Trump applauded U.S. support for Israel, saying, "No, my primary thing—I do want to help them defend Israel."On Netanyahus leading opposition candidate and former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, Trump said, "I dont hear bad things about him."But he added, "people have written off Bibi [Netanyahu] many, many times, just like theyve written off me many, many times. I wouldnt underestimate Bibi." President Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office on July 28. Photo: Maayan Toaf/GPO/Handout/Anadolu via Getty ImagesTrump on the AI race and superintelligence:Trump continued to brush aside concerns about AIs threat to humanity as "phony threats."Asked by Time whos behind that conspiracy, Trump replied, "The whole country is based on fake stuff because these people have Trump derangement syndrome."He said he didnt know if that included Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who dined with the president on Sunday.The president said his "guardrail" if top AI labs "do bad things" is federal law enforcement: "I have a DOJ, I have an FBI."Trump also championed the data centers powering the AI boom, despite widespread opposition."I would like to have data centers," he said. "It doesnt mean I want them right next to my house, but certainly I like them in my county."He acknowledged "so many politicians are against them," but warned, "If we dont build them, theyll be built someplace else." A screenshot of a White House post about the Time magazine cover. Screenshot: @WhiteHouse/XTrump pressed on the media ban, coverage:After banning three media outlets from the White House — and being ordered by a judge to reinstate them, Trump continued to blast "fake news" for what he called "bad story after bad story."It comes as the White House once again dropped CNN from the press pool covering the presidents trip to Texas and Oklahoma Thursday.He also lashed out at Time for the questions they asked him, saying in response to an inquiry about Sen. Mitch McConnells (R-Ky.) health, "You havent asked me one f--king positive question."He ended the interview by saying, "Well, I hope I get a decent story. I dont think—you know, its hard to get a good story. Every questions a hit. I dont know what the hells wrong."How Trump views DemocratsTrump told Time that he doesnt think Democrats will take control of Congress after the midterms — especially if he campaigns."I think well do okay if I campaign, and I intend to. If I campaign … you dont give me enough credit. When I campaign, I give people a lot."If Democrats win the House, Trump predicted: "Theyll probably go after me and Ill go after them."There was at least one Democrat Trump was willing to praise: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. "I say I like him, I think hes great, but I think his policies are crazy."Go deeper: How Trumps signature issue fell off voters radar
22 days ago
![5 takeaways from Trumps combative Time interview President Trumps 75-minute interview with Time revealed his latest thinking on the Iran war, the AI race (or in his words, SI), the media and more.Why it matters: The interview with one of Americas most historic news publications gives voters insight into the direction of the country roughly a month ahead of the midterms.Driving the news: Trump was unapologetic across the board: on prolonging the Iran war, resisting AI regulation and threatening to "go after" Democrats if they win the House.The interview was historic, too, as it was Trumps 56th appearance on a Time cover, "surpassing President Richard Nixon, who held the record for more than half a century," the magazine says.Here are five takeaways.Trump on Iran:Trump was defiant when asked why the war in Iran had stretched longer than the timeline he originally floated, telling Time, "I could have stopped then, but I wanted to go further."He said the press "fed" Americans his initial prediction of attacks lasting around four to six weeks, a timeline he gave to multiple outlets at the start of the war. He also repeatedly suggested the war was almost over.He reiterated the threat he made before the UN General Assembly that he may "annihilate" Iran.Pressed to square that with the assertion that hes the president of peace, Trump replied, "by annihilating Iran, weve created peace in the world."He also said its "possible" hed ramp up bombing after the midterms, disputing Pentagon reports of a munitions shortfall.Trump on Netanyahu reelection:Trump sidestepped questions about whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be reelected in Israel, with the election just weeks away.He said he was "not involved in politics anymore" but touted his popularity in Israel. Pressed again, Trump applauded U.S. support for Israel, saying, "No, my primary thing—I do want to help them defend Israel."On Netanyahus leading opposition candidate and former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, Trump said, "I dont hear bad things about him."But he added, "people have written off Bibi [Netanyahu] many, many times, just like theyve written off me many, many times. I wouldnt underestimate Bibi." President Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office on July 28. Photo: Maayan Toaf/GPO/Handout/Anadolu via Getty ImagesTrump on the AI race and superintelligence:Trump continued to brush aside concerns about AIs threat to humanity as "phony threats."Asked by Time whos behind that conspiracy, Trump replied, "The whole country is based on fake stuff because these people have Trump derangement syndrome."He said he didnt know if that included Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who dined with the president on Sunday.The president said his "guardrail" if top AI labs "do bad things" is federal law enforcement: "I have a DOJ, I have an FBI."Trump also championed the data centers powering the AI boom, despite widespread opposition."I would like to have data centers," he said. "It doesnt mean I want them right next to my house, but certainly I like them in my county."He acknowledged "so many politicians are against them," but warned, "If we dont build them, theyll be built someplace else." A screenshot of a White House post about the Time magazine cover. Screenshot: @WhiteHouse/XTrump pressed on the media ban, coverage:After banning three media outlets from the White House — and being ordered by a judge to reinstate them, Trump continued to blast "fake news" for what he called "bad story after bad story."It comes as the White House once again dropped CNN from the press pool covering the presidents trip to Texas and Oklahoma Thursday.He also lashed out at Time for the questions they asked him, saying in response to an inquiry about Sen. Mitch McConnells (R-Ky.) health, "You havent asked me one f--king positive question."He ended the interview by saying, "Well, I hope I get a decent story. I dont think—you know, its hard to get a good story. Every questions a hit. I dont know what the hells wrong."How Trump views DemocratsTrump told Time that he doesnt think Democrats will take control of Congress after the midterms — especially if he campaigns."I think well do okay if I campaign, and I intend to. If I campaign … you dont give me enough credit. When I campaign, I give people a lot."If Democrats win the House, Trump predicted: "Theyll probably go after me and Ill go after them."There was at least one Democrat Trump was willing to praise: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. "I say I like him, I think hes great, but I think his policies are crazy."Go deeper: How Trumps signature issue fell off voters radar](https://images.axios.com/aOP6W3sNe9xDjQ20acb8sz6-GQY=/0x0:4000x2250/1366x768/2026/10/01/1790863258903.jpeg)
