Hour 3 - Hour 3 - Trump 3.0?

Summary

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show: Hour 3 - "Trump 3.0?"
Release Date: April 1, 2025

In the third hour of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, hosted by Premiere Networks, Clay and Buck delve deep into the evolving political landscape, focusing primarily on former President Donald Trump's potential return to the political arena, the significance of upcoming elections in Florida and Wisconsin, and commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa. The episode is enriched with insightful discussions, listener interactions, and historical reflections, making it a comprehensive listen for those keen on understanding current political dynamics.

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1. Election Day Highlights: Florida and Wisconsin

Clay Travis kicks off the discussion by emphasizing the critical elections taking place in Florida’s most northern districts and Wisconsin, labeling Wisconsin as the "number one battleground state in America right now." He underscores the slim margins that define electoral outcomes in these regions:

• Florida's 1st District: "Go vote in, in our opinion, for Jimmy Petronas, who is going to do an amazing job representing the Panhandle..." [00:00]

• Florida's 6th District: "Randy Fine, if you are living in the 6th congressional district of Florida... Both Matt Gates and Mike Waltz are being replaced in these special elections." [00:00]

Clay highlights the significant financial disparities in these races, noting that Jimmy Petronas was outspent five to one, and Randy Fine faced a nearly 10 to 1 funding disadvantage. He urges listeners to support these candidates to send a strong message to the opposition.

In discussing Wisconsin, Clay points out the state's pivotal role in shaping national outcomes: "Every single election in Wisconsin is right there on the margin of going one way or the other. If Wisconsin voters who voted for Trump come out, they will win that Supreme Court race and all three of those races will be used in many ways as a referendum on the first 70 some odd of the Trump White House." [00:00]

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2. Trump's Speculated Third Term: A Strategic Distraction?

The conversation takes a sharp turn towards the intriguing topic of Donald Trump's potential bid for a third presidential term. This speculation arises from Trump’s comments, particularly his interaction with Kristen Welker on NBC's Meet the Press, where he expressed interest in running against Barack Obama.

Buck Sexton responds to Clay’s query about the seriousness of Trump's third-term talk:

"That reminds me of Gladiator... Maximus vs. Titus of Gaul. Trump is a showman, and his ultimate political opponent would be Barack Obama." [06:26]

Clay Travis elaborates on the strategic implications:

"I view it as a little bit of a smokescreen or a distraction technique for the media because they're going to spend a lot of time talking about something that is completely irrelevant right now other than for the amusement factor. [07:00]

Buck concurs, suggesting that Trump’s musings about a third term could serve to divert media attention from pressing issues like tariffs and economic policies: "This takes some of the heat off." [06:26]

Notable Quote: “I think Trump will [...] endorse J.D. vance. That's what I would predict as we sit here in the April 1st of 2025.” – Clay Travis [10:22]

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3. Endorsement Speculations: J.D. Vance as Trump's Heir

Delving deeper into the succession narrative, Clay posits that Trump’s endorsement of J.D. Vance for the 2028 Republican nomination is a calculated move to ensure the continuation of his political legacy:

"I think Trump wants J.D. Vance to be seen as the heir to Trump." [10:53]

Buck muses on the uncertainty surrounding Trump's willingness to be a "kingmaker" and the potential impact on the Republican Party's future:

"I felt like Trump is going to view the successor as a version of The Apprentice for the leader of the free world." [10:56]

Clay Travis further analyzes the dynamics between Trump and potential successors, emphasizing the importance of maintaining party momentum:
"He wants there to be another generation continuing the work that he started." [10:35]

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4. The 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa: A Listener's Tribute

Shifting from politics to history, Clay and Buck commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa by sharing a poignant listener call from Jim Shiretta. Jim recounts his father's experiences as a World War II combat veteran at Hacksaw Ridge, highlighting the sacrifices made during one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific:

"80 years ago today, the war in the Pacific reached Okinawa... Dominic Shiretta was my father. He was a World War II combat veteran who fought on Hacksaw Ridge." [19:35]

Jim provides a detailed narrative of the 77th Infantry Division's grueling training and combat experiences, earning numerous honors and medals. He also references the acclaimed film Hacksaw Ridge, praising its accurate portrayal of heroism and sacrifice:
"Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge is terribly relevant to me, knowing that my father fought on and survived that battle." [22:24]

Buck Sexton adds his appreciation for the film, noting its critical acclaim and the remarkable story of Desmond Doss:
"Going into a battlefield full of grievously wounded Americans, crawling with Japanese... to save dozens," [23:56]

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5. Historical Literacy and Contemporary Reflections

Clay Travis underscores the importance of historical knowledge in understanding current events and overcoming future challenges:
"Historical illiteracy is one of the biggest challenges that we face in this country. If you don't know your history, then you are likely to believe that every single moment is the most catastrophically dangerous that this country has ever faced." [36:19]

Buck echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the need for Americans to grasp their past achievements to navigate present and future adversities effectively.

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6. Listener Interactions and Community Engagement

Throughout the episode, Clay and Buck engage with their listeners through talkbacks and calls, addressing various topics from pop culture to constitutional debates. Notably, VIP Listener Don raises a question about the 12th Amendment and the feasibility of Trump running for vice president as a pathway to a third term:

*"He would be a vice president [...]" – VIP Listener Don [28:13]

Clay Travis responds by dissecting the complexities of the 12th Amendment and expressing skepticism about the practicality of such a maneuver:
"Trump floated it as a possibility... I think Trump is having some fun with this." [28:13]

Another listener, Jimmy from Agawam, Massachusetts, offers his thoughts on Sydney Sweeney's portrayal in media, prompting Clay to advocate for greater public support of creative endeavors:
"I think it's genius. All genius is not immediately supported by the entire American populace." [35:19]

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7. Social and Cultural Observations

In a lighter segment, Buck shares his plans to introduce Clay to the vibrant fitness culture of South Florida, highlighting societal trends like workout recording and social media influence:
"Clay's coming to a Miami beach gym tomorrow... people record their workouts." [33:54]

This segment adds a personal touch to the show, showcasing the hosts' camaraderie and engagement with their local community.

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Conclusion

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show masterfully intertwines political analysis, historical reflection, and listener engagement to provide a multifaceted exploration of contemporary issues. From dissecting Trump's political strategies to honoring the valor of WWII veterans, Clay and Buck offer listeners a rich tapestry of discussions that inform, entertain, and provoke thought. Whether you're a political enthusiast, history buff, or casual listener, this episode delivers valuable insights and compelling narratives that resonate beyond the airwaves.

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Notable Quotes:

• “I believe he's going to have a very successful term in office here. He's gonna have to leave, I believe, in 2029.” – Clay Travis [08:13]

• “That's what Trump floated as a possibility in his interview with Kristen Welker of NBC News.” – Clay Travis [28:13]

• “Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge is terribly relevant to me...” – Jim Shiretta [22:24]

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Timestamp Highlights:

• [00:00] Election Day in Florida and Wisconsin
• [06:26] Discussion on Obama vs. Trump as political opponents
• [10:22] Speculation on Trump's endorsement of J.D. Vance
• [19:35] Listener Jim Shiretta’s tribute to the Battle of Okinawa
• [36:19] Importance of historical literacy

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This detailed summary encapsulates the essence of the episode, ensuring that both regular listeners and newcomers can grasp the key discussions, insights, and emotional narratives shared by Clay Travis and Buck Sexton.

Transcript

[Clay Travis]

Welcome back in Clay Travis, Buck Sexton show hour number three. Appreciate all of you hanging out with us right off the top, echoing what we have told you many times during the course of today's program. It is an election day for many of you in Florida and in Wisconsin. And I know it can sneak up on you and you think, hey, it was just six months ago in the first district of Florida, go vote in, in our opinion, for Jimmy Petronas, who is going to do an amazing job representing the Panhandle that is the northernmost district in the state of Florida, by and large. And then Randy Fine, if you are living in the 6th congressional district of Florida, and that is the area, Daytona, St. Augustine, both very strong Trump territory. Two different congressmen there, Matt Gates and Mike Waltz, both being replaced in these special elections. Democrats, you heard Jimmy Petronas at the top of the midway through the first hour tell us that he's been outspent five to one. Buck, yesterday you had Randy Fine on and Randy Fine has been outspent nearly 10 to 1 were the dollar figures that I saw. So we want you to go send a message. Randy Fine, Jimmy Petronas for the Floridians out there. I'm down in Miami with Buck. Thank you to him for holding down the fort yesterday while I was helping Frank Siller and all the guys and gals at Tunnel to Towers raise money for the fabulous event that they do T2T do. They had a Florida golf event going on there and also Wisconsin. Wisconsin is, I think it's fair to say, Buck, the number one battleground state in America right now in that every race comes down to just a few thousand votes. It feels like our buddy Ron Johnson got reelected in 2022 by about 25,000 votes. For those of you who remember, Trump won Wisconsin by 30,000 votes in this most recent election in November. Unfortunately, Eric Hovdi lost Wisconsin by a few thousand votes, by and large. I mean, this is every single election in Wisconsin is right there on the margin of going one way or the other. So if Wisconsin voters who voted for Trump come out, they will win that Supreme Court race and all three of those races will be used in many ways as a referendum on the first 70 some odd of the Trump White House. So that is out there right now. Several other stories underway. Trump reportedly, as we were just discussing, going to give his full tariff decision on April 2, 4:00 Eastern. We will figure out exactly what that is tomorrow. I would imagine more and more of it will leak out. We've got the 80th anniversary, by the way, of Okinawa. For those of you out there that are World War II history buffs, today is the 80th anniversary, I believe, of the initial attack at Okinawa. Am I correct in that?

[Buck Sexton]

Sure, I think I. I mean, that. That's quite a stat to pull out of thin air. You're putting me on the hot seat.

[Clay Travis]

The team team in New York make sure that I didn't screw that up. I think that is correct, that I know we just had the 80th anniversary of D Day last year. I think the invasion of Okinawa. I believe this is the 80th anniversary of that occurring back in 1945. Luigi Mangione, a report that we are going to be seeking through Attorney General Pam Bondi, the death penalty. And there are a bunch of other stories out there.

[Buck Sexton]

You are right on the beginning of the Battle of Okinawa. And we have something special for everybody on the battle that is known as Hacksaw Ridge. We'll play that a little later for everybody.

[Clay Travis]

All right, so I want to get your take on this. There has been a lot of drama in the past few days over Trump potentially wanting a third term.

[Buck Sexton]

Oh, boy.

[Clay Travis]

This is. This is echoing everywhere. And I want to hit this for you. I believe we have Trump talking about he'd like to run against Obama. Now, Trump has an ability to get attention from. For things that, frankly, nobody else can get attention for. And we all know that he likes to gig the media a decent amount. Now, this initially started, I believe, Buck with Kristen Welker at NBC's Meet the Press. Trump gave quotes there, but here is cut three. Trump says he would welcome a challenge from Obama, and he thinks it would be a good one. Uh, this is again, cut three.

[Buck Sexton]

If you were allowed for some reason to run for a third term, is there a thought that the Democrats could try to run Barack Obama against you?

[Donald Trump]

I'd love that.

[Buck Sexton]

For his third term.

[Donald Trump]

Boy, I'd love that. That would. That would be a good one. I'd like that. No, people are asking me to run, and there's a whole story about running for a third term. I don't know. I never looked into it. They do say there's a way you can do it, but I don't know about that. But I have not looked into it. I want to do a fantastic job. We have four years, just about. Almost close to four years. It's time is flying, but it's still close to four years, and we're getting a lot of credit for having done a great job. In the almost 100 days.

[Clay Travis]

Okay, Peter Doocy, great question. As he tied in Barack Obama versus Donald Trump let their guy go for a third term against our guy. That would be an epic battle. What do you think's going on here? What is all the third term talk about from your perspective?

[Buck Sexton]

Okay, well, for one thing it reminds me of Gladiator, which is a fantastic movie as we all know we've discussed here. It's your wife's favorite movie. It's a top of all time. Five maybe top three for me. I mean, so I, I'm a huge Gladiator fan as well. Not Gladiator 2. That would be for peasants. Some people are saying, some people are saying Gladiator 2 for peasants. But anyway, Gladiator 1, amazing. And remember when they, they bring out of retirement to face Maximus, they bring like the greatest gladiator of all time. I think it was Titus of Gaul. Wow. I've seen that movie a lot. Titus of Gaul. And he's the guy with the, the metal, the sort of gold mask on and the tigers and all that stuff. Trump is a showman and for him, the ultimate political opponent of this era would be Barack Obama.

[Clay Travis]

Yes.

[Buck Sexton]

That is the only Democrat who won majorities twice. You know, even look back at Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton won with the first time.

[Clay Travis]

What, 40 something percent, 3%, something like that. Now he was running with Ross Perot who got nearly 20% of the vote.

[Buck Sexton]

I mean, so Bill did not have any kind of a mandate.

[Clay Travis]

You know, never won a majority, majority of, never got over 50% of the election, which a lot of people don't realize.

[Buck Sexton]

Right. That's a stunning statistic when you think about it in retrospect. So Barack Obama would be the Democrats great champion. Right? That's so Trump just leaning into that I think is very Trump, not surprising at all. The third term talk. I see this entirely as Trump doing what he does, which is he's going to get all of this focus from anti Trump media on this. Everybody who likes Trump and voted for Trump kind of just smiles and looks at this. They're like, yeah, whatever, you know, calm down. Like no one really gets worried about it from our side or worried about it. Just no one pays much attention to it. I think they like the, they are amused by how much it upsets Democrats. But here's what it does do. Tomorrow Trump's talking about tariffs. Last hour we were discussing tariffs. There are a lot of people that want to create a narrative that what Trump is doing with the economy is destabilizing etc. Etc. This takes some of the heat off. I view it as a little bit of a smokescreen or a distraction technique for the media because they're going to spend a lot of time talking about something that is completely irrelevant right now other than for the amusement factor. And it takes some of the heat off of the. Look, they're starting to see that there's. They've got to do these cuts and they've got to do these changes in these tariffs in a way that doesn't just feed narratives to the opposition. Right. It's the right thing to do, but you have to handle it a certain way.

[Clay Travis]

I think what it really represents is Trump's awareness that fixing the country is going to take more than four years. And this is why we have said you've got to string together a series of wins, no matter how successful of a term Trump has. And I believe he's going to have a very successful term in office here. He's gonna have to leave, I believe, in 2029. And certainly the other crazy thing about this is the process to select Trump's replacement as the Republican nominee for 2028 will actually get underway by March of 2027. And that sounds crazy. And honestly, the shadow primary will begin before then. Cause people will be out raising money. But basically the day after the midterms happen next year, the official running start date of the 2028 presidential calendar will begin. And that's going to happen in a hurry. And one thing that we have talked about is how will Trump handle. We've never seen this in his entire political career. How will Trump handle the possibility of there being a successor to him, which means that he isn't necessarily the straw that stirs the drink. That is the pursuit of who the new Republican nominee would be matters Now. I think his selection. You nailed this. Well called by you before anybody else was saying it to me. JD Vance actually is a selection that Trump made because he wants there to be another generation continuing the work that he started. He could have picked a guy like Doug Burgum, for instance. Nothing against Doug Burgum, who's in the Cabinet, but Doug Burgum is an older guy. There are a lot of 40 somethings that Trump has surrounded himself with, whether it's Pete Hegseth, whether it's Tulsi Gabbard, whether it's J.D. vance. These are guys and gals that are, relatively speaking, youthful in the political context. And I think that was a conscious decision to try to prolong the movement that Trump is trying to put in place.

[Buck Sexton]

So you see this as pure 4D chess from Trump. Just to be clear, you think that him talking about a third term, you're going really. This is like Marcus Aurelius level, philosophical future of the Republic stuff you're going with here.

[Clay Travis]

I think that Trump will. This is my take. I think that Trump in 2027 will say at some point, J.D. vance is my guy. And I think he will endorse J.D. vance. Interesting, because I think he wants J.D. vance to be seen as the heir to Trump.

[Buck Sexton]

I think that. We'll see.

[Jim Shiretta]

We'll see.

[Buck Sexton]

We can mark this one down. I feel. I feel like Trump is going to view the successor as a ver. As a version of the Apprentice for the leader of the free world. And I'm not sure that he's going to. He certainly hasn't already. And he's been given opportunities to say it is J.D. he's sort of deferred on that a little bit.

[Clay Travis]

Yeah, he was asked that question directly.

[Buck Sexton]

Yeah, directly. So maybe until time. But I could see Trump wanting to be kingmaker toward the end here. And he's a guy who likes to be in the center of the game. The second that you pick your, your. I can't believe we're talking about, you know, we're just a couple months into Trump's term. We'll get back onto that in a second. But the second that you say who your successor is, in this political environment, the successor is going to be the person who is driving a lot of the party agenda. So I. Whereas if you say, hey, guys, I got a lot of work to do until the very end, I'm running through the tape and we'll see what happens with a successor. Changes the game a little bit.

[Clay Travis]

I do think it's interesting as well, though. There are two. Two pathways to follow. Barack Obama anointed Hillary Clinton. His successor kicked Joe Biden to the curb.

[Buck Sexton]

Barack Obama right to do so.

[Clay Travis]

Correct.

[Buck Sexton]

He actually made the right move because he was like dementia. Joe should not.

[Clay Travis]

He doesn't have the ability to do this. And now we unfortunately have all figured that out. But remember, he never endorsed Biden. Everybody forgets in 2020, Barack Obama set out the race. So to your point, it may be that Trump likes the competition of people trying to get his endorsement and doesn't decide to do it. I will say this. You know what? He moved a bust into the White House recently.

[Buck Sexton]

Fdr.

[Clay Travis]

I don't know that it's been talked about or reported on, but Trump Took a bust of FDR and had it moved into the White House. Now Google team back in New York. Google and see whether this has been written about. I was told about this when I was traveling on Air Force One to go to the NCAA wrestling championships recently. Trump has been saying recently that his favorite Democrat is fdr. And if you ask him why his favorite Democrat is FDR, he says because he served multiple terms.

[Buck Sexton]

Four. Right.

[Clay Travis]

He got elected 32, 36, 40. 44.

[Buck Sexton]

Four. Yeah. Just four terms.

[Clay Travis]

Yeah. Four terms in office.

[Buck Sexton]

They had to have a whole constitutional amendment because of him. What was it? 1951. I think the Constitution came down which.

[Clay Travis]

Is interesting that we have term limits for president and not term limits for any other elected.

[Buck Sexton]

Obviously. How many people do you think if you walk on the street and you ask them to name any and they don't have to. I'm not saying memorized, but to say any amendment beyond the first 10 that they would be able to do so.

[Clay Travis]

I don't think you're. I think most people know the First Amendment. I think a lot of people know the Second Amendment. By the time you get into Fourth Amendment, which is unreasonable search and seizure, I think 5% of Americans could tell you what the Fourth Amendment is. And by the way, when you get into.

[Buck Sexton]

Once you get into the 20s, you're really.

[Clay Travis]

I think. Well, I think some people would know the 19th Amendment because they would popular culture when they get the rights vote.

[Buck Sexton]

And they would know ending slavery. They would probably. When I say they. 5% of people would know.

[Clay Travis]

I ish.

[Buck Sexton]

Yeah, I think 5%. You know it's funny too is the most recent constitutional amendment is probably the most boring. I think it has to do with 1992. Congressional salary changes can't take effect. I can't believe they.

[Clay Travis]

I don't even remember. I don't even know that.

[Buck Sexton]

Check, check me team. Am I right on this one? This is really. I've been doing trivia night with Kerry recently so I try to be on my game. We are reigning champ two nights in a row at our local, local club here, by the way. So just throwing that there. But we had. I think it's 90, 91 or 92. It was. You can't have a congressional salary change that takes effect until the next Congress. I can't believe that that was actually a constant. Like you needed a constitutional amendment for that. But they did one, I guess because everybody who makes the amendments was affected by it. So some of them are very. Almost arcane or very procedure specific. Right. Anyway but no, three terms is one of them. That's what got me on this whole rant in the first place. So I don't know what, what do you actually think Trump is serious? You're talking about this like you think Trump is considering this in some way. Do you think he's really. I don't think he's really considering this.

[Clay Travis]

I think he's having fun with it. The problem is in order to change the law and allow him to run again would be very difficult. But he did say to NBC, oh, I could run as the vice president and then basically serve as the functional president again. I think Trump is having fun because he knows to a large extent that his continued viability as a politician drives his critics bonkers. And the fact that they want to call him a king and an authoritarian and everything else. I think ultimately he's going to endorse J.D. vance. That's what I would predict as we sit here in the April 1st of 2025. But I do think, look, we've looked at the Trump cabinet over the years. We don't know how all of this is going to shake out. But if I were setting odds, I would, I would bet right now that he's going to endorse J.D. vance in 2028. Major League Baseball season off to a great start. Unless you're an Atlanta Braves fan like me. Braves managed to go. Oh, and five, if you're a Yankee fan, it can't be much better. Prize picks allows you to pick more or less. Got these Torpedo bats, home runs flying out of the stadium like crazy. And also we've got Auburn, we got Florida, we got Houston, and we got Duke in the Final Four. You can pick more or less. You get 50 bucks right now when you use my name, Clay as the code. $50 instantly after you play your first five dollar lineup. It's easy. You'll love it. Why not do it again? Code clay for fifty dollars instantly after you play your first five dollar lineup. Prize picks run your game. MasterCard, Visa, Discovery. You can play in California, you can play in Texas, you can play in Florida, where I am with Buck right now. And you can play in Georgia if you're feeling left out. 40 states, 13 million players sign up today. Prizepix.com code Clay that's prizepix.com code clay.

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[Clay Travis]

Welcome back in Clay Travis. Buck Sexton show. Appreciate all of you hanging out with us? We got a quick turn here and then we're going to dive into the 80th anniversary of Okinawa. Also, how about Bill Maher having a dinner with Kid Rock, Dana White, Donald Trump? That is a hell of a quad. We'll talk a little bit about that and more. But we want to tell you right now, I was out yesterday working with our friend at Tunnel of the Towers to help raise a lot of money for people who definitely need it. That's injured soldiers, first responders, police officers, people out there putting their lives on the line for you. And that is what Tunnels the Towers does such an unbelievable job. It's an honor to be with them, help them raise money directly. Frank Siller's organization. Nearly 95 cents of every dollar they raise goes to help a family in need. They worked to pay off mortgages of families that have lost a loved one, a provider. More than 20 years later, after 9 11, they're still looking after our men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line for our safety and protection. It's truly the least we can do. Also helping so many people out there, not only who lose a loved one, but for people who have catastrophic injuries. You can join me and you can join Buck and donate $11 a month to Tunnel the Towers at t2t.org that's t the number 2t.org welcome back in Clay Travis Buck Sexton Show 80 years ago today, the greatest generation began their attack in Okinawa. And I believe we have a talk back from the son of a vet of Hacksaw Ridge that wanted to share that experience with all of you again. 80 years ago today, the war in the Pacific reached Okinawa. Hacksaw Ridge movie made by Clint Eastwood. Phenomenal film, I am told. I have still not watched it. I know I need to see it. But here is that recollection from the son of one of those veterans.

[Jim Shiretta]

Listen, my name is Jim Shiretta and I'm calling Today on the 80th anniversary of the invasion of Okinawa, a battle which would become the bloodiest of the Pacific. Last spring, Clay and Buck discussed their favorite war movies. And Buck mentioned that Hacksaw Ridge is one of his favorites. Hacksaw Ridge told the incredible true story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector who saved 75 men's lives and earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. Dominic Shiretta was my father. He was a World War II combat veteran who, like most men of his generation, did not share his war stories with his family. We knew that he fought in several major battles in the Pacific. And we knew that only a handful of his original company survived the war. But it was only many years after his death that I discovered that he fought on Hacksaw Ridge. His company for six days fought on and around the ridge. They started the battle with 150 men and they came off the hill with only 28. Mel Gibson's hacksaw Ridge is terribly relevant to me, knowing that my father fought on and survived that battle. The larger story of the 77th Infantry Division is also incredible. This division was formed in April 1942 and was one of the first three all draftee divisions formed after Pearl Harbor. At the outset of hostilities, our war planners knew that they would need from somewhere between 90 and 200 new infantry and armored divisions to successfully prosecute a two front war. The 77th was specifically set up as a guinea pig outfit. The war planners filled its ranks with older men whose average age was 33. They wanted to know how far and how hard they could push the old guys. For 27 months, the 77th was trained in swamps, deserts, mountains, snow and jungle. Each training cycle was explicitly designed to be as tough as possible. The enlisted men were trained to a high level of proficiency in a newly issued M1 Garand rifle. A high percentage qualified as expert. The 77th's first combat was the retaking of Guam. They fought alongside the 3rd Marine Division. A youthful Marine watched the 77th come ashore and commented, look at those old bastards go. This moniker would stick with the 77th for the duration of the war. On a more positive note, by the end of this battle, the Marines began referring to the 77th Infantry Division as the 77th Marines. A high compliment indeed. During four battles, the 77th experienced 200 days of combat while earning seven Medals of Honor, 335 Silver Stars, 16 Distinguished Unit Citations and 4,433 Bronze Stars.

[Clay Travis]

Incredible story here, by the way. I said Clint Eastwood. Mel Gibson obviously made that movie. I still have not watched it. You've told me it's fabulous.

[Buck Sexton]

Couple things Clint Eastwood did. Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima. Letters from Iwo Jima. I think on that battle, obviously not. Okinawa is a very well made movie for what it is. Comes from the Japanese perspective. Still very, very well done. You absolutely. I mean, you're here for a couple of days. I might. I'm gonna tell you guys something right now. We're actually doing good Rancher Steak night tonight here at the Sexton household. I'm not even kidding. We've Got them thawed out and ready to go. So we're doing good Rancher Steak night tonight. Myself, Clay, my brothers, Carrie, and we also might have to fit in a movie night here at some point. Maybe we do, like half of Hacksaw Rich tonight and half, half tomorrow. Because, Clay, it is. It is so. It's so well done. I'll tell you, in the beginning, I didn't really like it that much. Meaning the opening sort of first hour of the movie, I'm like, this guy, he's all like, well, I don't really want to do any bad things. And then toward the end, you're like, this guy is incredible. And then you have this moment where you say, but come on, that couldn't really happen. And you read the Medal of Honor citation. This guy really did the stuff that they talk about. I mean, incredible. Going into a battlefield full of grievously wounded Americans, crawling with Japanese, who will execute absolutely anybody that they capture or see on that battlefield. And to save. I think he. He saved dozens. I want to say it was close to 70 people.

[Clay Travis]

I think it's over 70.

[Buck Sexton]

Over 70 people that he pulled off that battlefield solo, unarmed, and clearly worthy of the Medal of Honor. And I don't think Mel Gibson gets enough credit for what a fantastic movie that really was. I think it did get nominated for a couple of Oscars. Not that the Oscars really mean. The Oscars have stopped meaning something in recent years, but it was such a fantastic movie that it broke through and even got some critical acclaim. So, dude, you absolutely need to see that.

[Clay Travis]

Yeah, I've got to watch it.

[Buck Sexton]

I'm going to just. I'm going to text. If I text Laura, it'll actually get done.

[Clay Travis]

Yeah, Laura, that.

[Buck Sexton]

You guys need to do this.

[Clay Travis]

Laura will get it. Now we're finally through the most of the sports calendar. So this is typically when I would pivot once the college basketball season ends. By the way, I was texting with him during the show. Auburn men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl, awesome guy. He used his Sweet 16 win as an opportunity to plea for the release of the hostages still being held by Hamas. And he wants to come on and talk with us this week in addition to everything else that is going on, because he sees the success of the Auburn's men's basketball team as an opportunity to advocate for good against evil in the world. He's a fan of the show. He's a fan of Outkick. I think we're going to get him set up to come on, but I do think as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Greatest Generation and the work that they did to preserve freedom around the world, it's worth mentioning that we still have, I believe it's over 50 hostages being held in Gaza, and October 7th was the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust. So we like to think that many of the battles that those guys fought and won for truth and freedom and the American way, that that era has passed. There's still an awful lot of evil out there, and it's important to remember that. I think even as we celebrate the incredible innate goodness of the average American soldier During World War II, there's still a tremendous amount of evil in the world. And I hate to have to even mention it, but 80 years after we liberated those concentration camps, I mean, there's still a lot of people being murdered because they're Jewish. And we have to keep that in mind and I think call it out where we see it.

[Buck Sexton]

Absolutely. So we are so glad we were able to share with you that story from that listener. We're so gratified and thankful that we have the listenership that we do that brings such incredible both knowledge and life experience to the show. So having you all weigh in is one of the great joys of the show, especially with something like that, where you can really share something with a few million people. So thank you so much to our listener for giving us that. On a less serious note, we still love our less serious notes, though, because we have a lot of you that weigh in on talkbacks and on the phone and on things like that. And we have. This is a talk back DD from a listener in upstate New York. Jay, listen on WGY Radio. Let's hear what Jay has to say. Oh, well, it was in my inbox of one that we had. So we will get back to that here momentarily. We also have some VIP emails that we can get to. Here we go. VIP listener Don Trump cannot run for VP. Refer to the 12th Amendment. Qualifications for VP are identical to those for president now. Interesting. He's essentially saying, even, look, I don't think Trump's running for a third term. Okay? I don't think that's the thing that we need to really be focused on or talking about. However, just in the theoretical, the backdoor third term option, Clay, that most people discuss without getting into exigencies, emergencies, whatever is, he would be a vice president, I guess, under vets. VP listener Don. VIP listener Don is saying he cannot be vp because to be vp, you have to have the same qualifications as president. Do you buy this?

[Clay Travis]

First of all, the 12th Amendment is a mess. We talked about this in the context of you're not technically able to both be from the same state. Many people wanted Trump and DeSantis to be a ticket. Um, obviously that didn't end up happening. The amendments mean whatever five justices of the Supreme Court say. So the reason why I brought that up is Trump floated it as a possibility in his interview with Kristen Welker of NBC News that he could be the vice president for J.D. vance, who was elected president. Again. I think Trump is having some fun with this. Uh, but I do think it's worth having this float around out there. Here is what I think Trump really likes about this. At some point. Flag this. April 1, 2025. No Fools Gold here for April Fools. I think by the beginning of 2027, you are going to see an incredible pivot from the Democrat Party. They are going to go buck from Trump is Hitler to Trump is such a supremely, uniquely talented politician that his victories actually speak to his incredible acclaim and achievement, not to the Republican Party. They are going to pivot and claim that he's Reagan. Just get ready for it. Some of you think this is crazy. That's how they're going to justify their loss in 24 and their loss in 16.

[Buck Sexton]

And they may even be willing to bring Barack Obama into the conversation and say, we know what this is like. We as Democrats. Democrats. Because Barack Obama's two terms never translated into victories for the Democrats in the House. And now after the first 2008 was a blowout, they got to a super majority. Yes. But from there on it was nothing but downward trajectory for the Democrat Party all the way leading to Trump in 2016. And it's kind of ironic that Obama's VP had to come back of his own accord after being shut down by Obama and Hillary in 2016 to run in 2020. Right. So Obama, they might say that Trump is kind of like our. Or rather Trump is your version of Obama Republicans. He was a unique political talent that does not speak to whether you actually connect more with the American people as a party. It was all him, by the way. I think you're right on this. I think they will make that shift.

[Clay Travis]

Because it'll as soon as we get to 2027 pre prepared for it also, you know what I mean? Hearing other people start to ask questions about. Even people who previously said it was crazy are like, you know that 81 million Joe Biden votes, that's getting harder and harder to explain how that could have happened now that we've had Trump on the ballot three different times.

[Buck Sexton]

That's still the all time record, right? Oh, yeah, all time record.

[Clay Travis]

Joe Biden in 2020 got 4 million more votes than Trump did in 2020.

[Buck Sexton]

The only way you could explain this that does not involve rigging slash cheating. And I think it involves certainly rigging. We can talk about the cheating. I have my concerns is that people were, there were such a psychological pandemic along with the COVID pandemic that people went nuts and just came out in crazy numbers to vote for the communists, which was a huge, an unfortunate error, as we all know, because he didn't win a second time because he was terrible and had dementia. We'll do more talkbacks calls, so light us up here, 800-282-822882. Clay and I come to you from South Florida, lovely South Florida Floridians and others all across the country. Give us a ring or talk back. You know, we love those talk backs. When this program started nearly four years ago, Pure Talk Wireless Service was one of the first sponsors that wanted in with us and we so appreciate that partnership. They made a compelling case that they were of better value to this audience than any of the big name mobile carriers you already know. And time has proven that they're correct. Since we've gone on the air in 2021, they've only improved their service without raising their prices. Not a single time. Pure Talk only charges $25 a month for unlimited talk text and 5 gigs of data on America's most dependable 5G network. When you put the entire family on a Pure Talk plan, the savings grow. The average size family of four saves more than $1,000 a year when they switch to PureTalk. And with PureTalk's US customer service team, you can switch hassle free in as little as 10 minutes. You can even keep your phone and your number using your cell phone. Dial £250, say the keywords Clay and Buck to make the switch and you'll save an additional 50% off your first month. Again, dial £250, say Clay and Buck to start saving today Pure Talk Wireless by Americans for Americans.

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Keep up with the biggest political comeback in world history on the Team 47 podcast Clay and Buck highlight Trump replays from the week Sundays at noon Eastern. Find it on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jim Shiretta]

All right.

[Buck Sexton]

Welcome back to Clay and Buck. We're closing up shop today, but we'll Be with you again tomorrow. Here, same, same time, same place. Clay and I hanging out in the south, the South Florida Freedom Bunker. Here Clay is enjoying the. The lovely weather, the prevalence of fitness studios in the neighborhood, and yeah, you.

[Clay Travis]

Got me going to your gym tomorrow.

[Buck Sexton]

Clay's coming. Clay's coming to a Miami beach gym tomorrow. He's going to walk around. He will never have seen so many people who are juicing or on a stack in his life, I would assume. I don't think that's as much of a thing in Nashville as it is here.

[Clay Travis]

But also a lot of people record their workouts, right? Like this is a very common thing. Like to post.

[Buck Sexton]

You might see some of that. There are other gyms where that is incredibly common. There are other gyms that. Where that happens because people, particularly of the. Of the young lady variety, monetize videos of their workouts.

[Clay Travis]

It's crazy.

[Buck Sexton]

And some of them make a lot of. No, I didn't really mean their workout. Like they actually just put up video of themselves and they become big influencers and everything else. So Clay has never been to a South beach gym before and we're going to give him his first experience. We're looking forward to hearing the.

[Clay Travis]

The review of how it goes. Yes.

[Buck Sexton]

And with that in mind, Jimmy in Agawam, Massachusetts wants to talk about Sydney Sweeney. What's going on, Jimmy and Mass.

[Listener Jimmy]

Bye, Clay and Buck. Yeah, I just wanted to congratulate you guys with a great combo. You are CIA and sports outkick and you guys do an excellent job.

[Buck Sexton]

Thank you.

[Clay Travis]

Appreciate that.

[Listener Jimmy]

I heard, I heard you talking about Sydney Sweeney and I was watching some coverage from Jimmy Fallon over in 2019 in England. They were representing, opening up for the Stones new album and Sydney Sweeney place in that video. She. She's on the car. It's the song's called Angry and so you guys mentioned her for Snow White, but after seeing that video, I don't know if you'd say Snow White again.

[Buck Sexton]

Can I just throw out there, Jimmy? Clay mentioned her for Snow White. This was a Clay recommendation that has gotten a lot of attention online.

[Clay Travis]

I wanted Disney to make $1 billion by putting Sydney Sweeney in a Snow White outfit. Now, my wife disagreed. Jimmy disagrees. I think it's genius. You know, all genius is not immediately supported by the entire American populace.

[Buck Sexton]

Yeah, Jimmy saying no chowder for you, Jimmy. Thanks for calling in. Jimmy disagrees.

[Clay Travis]

I love Tuesday, by the way. What did I say that a week ago? Jimmy's still doing his research. He saw a video, didn't like it. Wanted to make sure that we knew that he didn't think she was Snow White material.

[Buck Sexton]

Let's do talk back ff New York City 710W O R listener Fran hit it.

[Listener Fran]

Thank you both so much for playing that recollection of of Okinawa. That was really amazing. And this is exactly the kind of history that our students and kids in this country should be learning. And it just breaks my heart that we lost so many people.

[Buck Sexton]

Thank you. It was really powerful. That's why we wanted to play it for you.

[Clay Travis]

Yeah. And also because I do believe that historical illiteracy is one of the biggest challenges that we face in this country. If you don't know your history, then you are likely to believe that every single moment is the most catastrophically dangerous that this country has ever faced. And look, we won World War II. We had an election during the Civil War. You and I are both history nerds. I think it's important that people have a better grasp on all the things we've overcome and all the victories we've posted.