You've probably seen the clips. Maybe you caught a headline about tariffs or a soundbite about the Constitution that made you do a double-take. But honestly, if you haven't watched the trump meet the press full interview from start to finish, you're only getting half the story. It wasn't just another TV appearance; it was a sprawling, hour-long look into how the second term is actually functioning.
Kristen Welker didn't hold back. She pressed on the big stuff—mass deportations, the economy, and even some of the weirder international headlines like Greenland. Yes, Greenland is still a thing.
The Constitutional Question That Went Viral
One of the most jarring moments happened early on. Welker asked the President if he believed noncitizens in the U.S. are entitled to due process under the Fifth Amendment. Most politicians have a canned answer for this. Trump didn't.
"I don't know," he said.
When Welker pushed further, asking if he felt a need to uphold the Constitution in the context of these deportations, he gave the same answer: "I don't know." It’s the kind of exchange that sets social media on fire, but in the context of the full sit-down, it felt less like a slip-up and more like a deliberate refusal to be pinned down by legal norms. He basically signaled that his administration's "America First" priorities might not always wait for the courts to weigh in.
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Tariffs, Dolls, and Your Wallet
The economy is usually where these interviews get wonky, but this one stayed surprisingly personal. Trump’s theory on tariffs hasn't changed much since the campaign trail, but his way of explaining them has. He’s leaning into this idea that Americans should just "make do" with a bit less for the greater good of the domestic market.
He actually brought up toys. Specifically, dolls.
"Children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls," he told Welker, repeating a line from a recent cabinet meeting.
He argues that the trade deficit with China was so "unbelievable" that a few less toys is a small price to pay for economic independence. Whether or not parents buying Christmas gifts agree with that math is a different story, but he’s clearly not backing down from the 60% tariffs on Chinese goods.
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The Shadow of 2026 and the "Third Term" Talk
You can't talk about a Trump interview without the "third term" question coming up. It’s the elephant in the room. When Welker asked if he’d try to stick around past 2028, his response was a classic mix of "people want it" and "I'm not looking to do it."
He admitted that, to the best of his knowledge, it’s not allowed. But then he added that there are "methods" to do it, though he quickly pivoted to saying he just wants four great years before handing the keys to a "great Republican." He even gave a nod to J.D. Vance, calling him a "fantastic, brilliant guy" who might have the edge as the sitting VP.
Foreign Policy: From Venezuela to Greenland
The interview took a sharp turn into global territory. If you’ve been following the news, you know things have been... intense. The U.S. has a heavy hand in Venezuela right now, and Trump confirmed in the interview that we’re there for the "long haul."
When asked about the legality of seizing power or resources in South America, he was blunt: "I don't need international law." To him, the only limit on his power is his own morality and his own mind. That's a pretty heavy statement for a sitting president to make on national television.
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And then there’s the Greenland situation. He hasn't ruled out military force to "take care" of it. He frames it as a national security necessity. It sounds like a plot from a political thriller, but he’s treating it like a real-estate deal that just needs a bit of muscle to close.
Why This Specific Interview Stands Out
Usually, these things are edited for time. You get the best bits and the rest is left on the cutting room floor. This time, the White House was aggressive about making sure the whole thing aired. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt even reportedly told CBS in a different context that they’d "sue your ass off" if things were edited unfairly.
This creates a weird dynamic where the networks are almost afraid to trim the fat. The result? We get to see the long silences, the deflections, and the moments where the President is clearly trying to work out an idea in real-time. It’s raw, it’s sometimes chaotic, and it’s exactly what his base loves.
Real-World Takeaways
If you’re trying to make sense of where the country is headed after watching the trump meet the press full interview, here are the three things you should actually watch:
- The Fed Tension: He called Jerome Powell "lousy" again. While he says he has no "plan" to fire him yet, the threat of an indictment or a forced exit is looming. Keep an eye on your interest rates.
- The Tariff Reality: He’s telling us to prepare for higher prices on imports. If you’re planning big purchases, the "doll" comment suggests he’s serious about slowing down consumer spending on foreign goods.
- The Morality Clause: By saying his only limit is his "own morality," he’s essentially bypassed the traditional checks and balances in his own rhetoric. This is a signal for how he intends to use executive orders moving forward.
Basically, the interview served as a roadmap for the next two years. He’s not looking for consensus; he’s looking for results, and he doesn't seem to care which traditional rules get broken along the way.
Next Steps for You:
Check your local listings or the NBC News YouTube channel to watch the full, unedited version. Don't just rely on the 30-second clips on X (formerly Twitter). To understand the economic impact, you might want to look at the "Credit Card Competition Act" he endorsed, as that’s going to hit your wallet way before any Greenland deal does.