The David Pakman Show – October 14, 2025

“Embarrassing Middle East trip as MTG does a 180”

Episode Overview

In this episode, David Pakman provides sharp, fact-based commentary on Donald Trump’s disastrous Middle East trip, his overt praise for authoritarian leaders, corruption scandals in the administration, and a surprising shift towards reason from Marjorie Taylor Greene. The show also covers right-wing purity tests turning on Vivek Ramaswamy, Marco Rubio’s public sycophancy, the medical state (and medical secrecy) of Trump, and a pointed case study of how Republican talking points collapse under cross-examination.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Donald Trump’s Catastrophic Middle East Trip

• Trump’s Authoritarian Worship ([00:00]–[06:00])

  • Trump lavished praise on Egypt’s dictator Abdel Fattah el-Sisi:
    “Some people think that brutal authoritarianism, it’s not so nice, but I think it’s absolutely great.” – David Pakman ([02:45])
  • Trump celebrates dictatorships for their supposed lack of crime, ignoring brutal oppression.
  • He recounts his “chemistry” with Sisi in almost adolescent, rival-centric terms.

• Corruption on Display: Hot Mic with Indonesia’s President ([05:54]–[10:00])

  • Trump on a hot mic seemingly arranges introductions for a business venture involving his sons, blurring lines between statecraft and personal profit.
  • Pakman observes:
    “This is Donald Trump in an official capacity as President of the United States, talking about private, for profit business for the enrichment of himself and his family.” ([09:20])
  • Trump is then observed bragging to UAE officials about their “lots of cash,” referencing gifts/bribery.

• Global Humiliation and Authoritarian Handshakes ([10:00]–[12:00])

  • Trump’s signature handshake “jerking” to establish dominance is noted as a bizarre diplomatic power play.

2. Trump's Speech in Jerusalem & Call for Netanyahu Pardon

• Victory Lap and Inappropriate Interference In Israel ([12:00]–[17:00])
  • Trump takes credit for a provisional Israel-Gaza peace, but it’s noted he worked to prevent such agreements during the previous administration for personal political gain.
  • Trump publicly calls for a pardon for Benjamin Netanyahu: “Why don’t you give him a pardon?” – Donald Trump ([14:17])
  • Pakman:
    “Truly bizarre and completely inappropriate for an American president to publicly pressure another country's leader to pardon their own prime minister.” ([14:48])
  • Trump ignores his own presidency when blaming Obama and Biden for failures in the region.

3. More Sycophancy and Global Embarrassment

• Trump’s Praise For Other Authoritarians, Awkward Moments ([22:00]–[26:30])

  • He heaps admiration on Hungary’s Viktor Orbán:
    “I know a lot of people don’t agree with me, but I’m the only one that matters… you are fantastic. He’s a great leader.” – Trump ([22:00])
  • Footage reveals physical discomfort and embarrassment from European leaders (Italy’s Maloney, UK’s Starmer). Maloney especially looks mortified as Trump focuses on her “beauty.” “She looks like she caught a whiff of Trump’s diaper and does not like what she smells.” – Pakman ([23:57])
  • Pakistan’s leader nominates Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, to many’s visible disbelief.

• Marco Rubio’s Flattery Fumble ([27:36]–[28:01])

  • Rubio is chastised by Trump for insufficient praise, quickly doubling down: “Only 50 years, Marco? Is that what you’re going with? Think carefully...” – Pakman ([28:01])
  • Pakman:
    “No matter how much you flatter the guy, it is never enough... It’s the laughter of fear.” ([28:01])

4. Gendered & Shallow Criteria for Trump’s Inner Circle

• Objectification of Caroline Levitt ([30:48]–[31:10])
  • Trump, when asked about his press secretary’s job performance:
    “Those lips, they move like a machine gun.” – Trump ([31:06])
  • Pakman notes Trump values loyalty and perceived physical attractiveness above competence.

5. Trump’s Deepening Authoritarian Justifications

• Defending Dictatorship-style 'Public Safety' ([32:15]–[33:11])
  • Again, Trump compares U.S. cities to authoritarian regimes, arguing for dictatorial solutions to crime.
  • Pakman notes the dangerous rhetorical shift: “In talking about how great and safe it is in authoritarian countries, Trump is subsequently justifying authoritarianism here in the United States...” ([33:11])

6. Republican Stonewalling & Media Lessons

• J.D. Vance Dodges Bribery Question on National TV ([36:25]–[41:01])
  • Vance repeatedly ducks a direct question from George Stephanopoulos about Tom Homan accepting $50,000.
  • Employs tactics: answering a different question, pivoting, attacking the interviewer, feigning confusion. “If you don’t know what he did, how do you know it wasn’t a crime?” – Pakman ([39:16])
  • Pakman’s meta-commentary: “He comes off too condescending. He comes off patronizing. He comes off too slick…” ([41:01])

7. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Sudden 180

• Moment of Reason on Legislation & Policy Reality ([43:18]–[44:20])

  • On CNN, Greene unexpectedly makes sensible procedural points about the Epstein files and legislative priorities. “There is a new Democrat that’s been elected that does deserve to be sworn in. Her district elected her.” – Greene ([43:46])

• Acknowledging Economic Pain ([46:01]–[46:30])

  • On Tim Dillon’s podcast, Greene honestly describes stagnation in wages, rising costs, insurance, rent, and the young’s lack of home-buying hope. “Prices, inflation is stabilizing, sort of. But prices have not come down at all.” – Greene ([46:01])
  • Pakman finds this remarkable: “She is being sensible here…what this suggests to me is that a lot of the right-wing nonsense we hear is performative.” ([44:20])

8. Trump’s Health — The Official Narrative vs. Visible Reality

• Physical Exams and Obvious Decline ([53:04]–[56:09])
  • Trump’s health is officially described as “excellent,” with claims his heart is 14 years younger than his age, despite obvious health problems.
  • CNN panel discusses bruised hands and swollen ankles, but Pakman notes many symptoms are minimized or ignored: “Don’t believe what you see. Don’t believe what he sounds like. Simply acknowledge he’s 14 years younger than his chronological age from the standpoint of cardiac health.” – Pakman ([53:32])
  • Pakman expresses frustration that the administration only admits health problems when they’re undeniable.

9. Right-Wing Purity Tests Turn Inward

• Vivek Ramaswamy Confronted About Faith ([59:16]–[61:05])
  • Ramaswamy, running for Ohio governor, is attacked at an event by evangelicals for being Hindu. “Christianity is the one truth… why do you seem to be masquerading as a Christian?” – Activist ([59:46])
  • Pakman draws a lesson: “You don’t get to decide who ‘us’ is anymore… every reactionary movement eventually devours its softer founders.” ([61:05])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pakman: “Trump loves authoritarians. And Trump really believes that it would all be better if he just got to say, what is this? Is global shame? Putin, Kim Jong Un or Ban? It's a long list. And you can add El Sisi to that list.” ([05:54])
• Trump: “And they have very little crime, you know, because they don't play games. That's why they don't play games like we do in the United States.” ([03:56])
• On Trump’s behavior: “I've never seen international diplomacy under Donald Trump...Reduced to high school rivalries. Who likes whom and who am I impressed by?” – Pakman ([05:54])
• On Marco Rubio: "No matter how much you flatter the guy, it is never enough. And so Marco Rubio scrambles to recover. No, no, no. I meant 100. Like a dog begging for approval. And people laugh. But that's the laughter of fear.” – Pakman ([28:01])
• On Marjorie Taylor Greene: “She's actually describing the procedural situation accurately. That is rare for her and it's weird to hear her sound like a legislator.” – Pakman ([44:20])
• On right-wing purity tests: “Once you frame politics as a war of us versus them, you don't get to decide who is us anymore.” – Pakman ([61:05])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|---------------| | Trump praises Egypt’s dictator | 00:00–06:00 | | Trump hot mic with Indonesia’s President | 05:54–10:00 | | Trump’s handshake dominance | 10:00–12:00 | | Trump calls for pardon for Netanyahu | 14:17–14:48 | | Trump ignores his own presidency in blame | 16:14–17:14 | | Trump worships Orbán and awkward crowd | 22:00–26:30 | | Trump objectifies Caroline Levitt | 30:48–31:10 | | J.D. Vance dodges bribery question | 36:25–41:01 | | Marco Rubio flattery fumble | 27:36–28:01 | | Marjorie Taylor Greene’s brief moment of reason| 43:18–44:20 | | MTG honest about life being unaffordable | 46:01–46:30 | | Trump’s health and media skepticism | 53:04–56:09 | | Ramaswamy faces purity test on religion | 59:16–61:05 |

Final Thoughts

David Pakman delivers a critical, often biting analysis of the week’s political absurdities, centering on Trump’s global embarrassment and the deepening rot of American conservative politics. The episode highlights both overt corruption and the subtle, corrosive effects of sycophancy and reactionary purity, with surprise moments of clarity from unlikely quarters. Listening is not required to grasp just how surreal a political period we are living through.