Podcast Summary: The Five – “President Trump On The Five”
Date: March 26, 2026
Host & Panel: Dana Perino, Kayleigh McEnany, Kennedy, Jesse Watters, Greg Gutfeld
Special Guest: President Donald Trump
Main Theme & Purpose
This episode of The Five centers around a wide-ranging, live interview with President Donald Trump in the midst of a high-stakes international standoff with Iran. The hosts quiz Trump on his recent decision to extend the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the military campaign dubbed "Epic Fury," domestic repercussions, diplomatic alliances, as well as broader political and pop culture topics.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Iran Conflict and Strait of Hormuz Crisis
- Military Update: The U.S. military claims to have struck 10,000 Iranian targets since the operation began, destroying 92% of Iran’s large naval ships (03:03).
- Trump’s Extension: President Trump has extended his deadline by 10 days for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, citing ongoing negotiations (01:34, 16:49). He elaborates that the deadline was moved in part because the Iranians asked for more time, and he “gave them 10 days instead of 7” as a gesture for their agreement to send over oil tankers (17:09).
- Quote: “They asked for seven, and I said, I'm going to give you 10 because they gave me ships… Now they may say, oh, we're not speaking. That I don't like… But we are speaking and it's going fairly well.” – Trump (19:03)
- Strategic Outcomes: Trump and the panel discuss the destruction of Iran’s Navy, Air Force, missile capacity, and communications. Trump asserts, "We've already won the war. Militarily, we've totally won the war." (20:51)
- Allies’ Stance: The Emirates have called for the completion of the anti-Iran operation, and Israel remains quiet but is actively targeting Iranian assets (05:50, 07:44).
- Risks and Next Steps: Military risks and the plan to secure oil infrastructure are explained, with Greg Gutfeld citing that “there definitely will be casualties” but emphasizing U.S. dominance (03:52).
2. Domestic Political Fractures Over the War
- Democratic Opposition: The panel observes that some Democrats believe the U.S. is losing the war, with Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld criticizing the opposition for undermining the mission for political gain (03:16, 09:32).
- Quote: "They want this to fail. If they had to choose between a defeated Iran ... or an embarrassed Trump with an empowered Iran, they would pick the latter." – Watters (09:32)
- Support for Troops Versus Support for War: Gutfeld draws a distinction between disagreeing with the war and rooting for national failure. He advocates for supporting the troops regardless of political alignment (10:15).
3. Trump’s Justification and Reflections on War
- No-Choice Argument: Trump addresses voters who expected “no new wars” from him, arguing that action against Iran was necessary to prevent nuclear proliferation and greater threats (13:29).
- Quote: "You can't let a madman or you can't let a mad ideology have a nuclear weapon." – Trump (13:29)
- Past Administrations: Trump blames Obama for the escalation, calling his Iran nuclear deal a disaster (14:49).
- Assessment of Success: Kennedy probes what “victory” actually looks like; Trump says, “We’ve already won the war militarily,” and recounts destruction of Iranian leadership and assets (20:51).
4. Politics, Elections, and Trump’s Popularity
- Polls and Support: Trump references a CNN poll showing 100% support from “MAGA” voters and criticizes polling standards across networks (25:16).
- Election Integrity: He repeats claims of election rigging and positions his victories as proof of mainstream support (23:30).
5. NATO, Allies, and U.S. Diplomacy
- NATO's Role: Kayleigh notes disappointment that NATO did not act sooner in Iran; juxtaposed with Gulf allies stepping up (06:04).
- U.S. Burden-Sharing: Trump complains that the U.S. secures the Strait of Hormuz not for its own oil needs (being energy independent) but for the rest of the world (25:16).
6. TSA, Congressional Deadlock, and Filibuster
- Government Operations: With TSA about to miss paychecks due to congressional gridlock, Trump urges for terminating the filibuster to pass critical measures (36:36).
- Quote: "I would terminate the filibuster and I'd take a vote and I'd have everything done. And I'd vote on voter ID and I'd vote on citizenship." – Trump (37:03)
- Critiques of Congress: He singles out Republicans like Massie and Rand Paul for not supporting the agenda, despite Democratic unity (37:03).
7. Media Rivalries, Pop Culture, and Personalities
- Attitudes Toward Media: The President and hosts joke about ratings and panelists (“Congratulations on beating all of those frauds that try to compete with you…” – Trump to Watters, 12:48).
- Late-Night Comics: When asked about Jimmy Kimmel mocking DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullen, Trump calls Kimmel “a loser… with Trump derangement syndrome,” and defends Mullen as “country smart” (47:42).
- Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris: Trump uses ridicule when discussing potential Democratic contenders, targeting Newsom’s intelligence and mental competence (42:46).
- Nostalgia for JFK Jr. and the '90s: Dana Perino asks about JFK Jr.; Trump reminisces about their friendship and speculates on JFK Jr.’s potential political legacy (44:38).
8. White House Correspondents Dinner and Social Occasions
- First Attendance: Trump remarks on why he avoided the event previously, reflects positively on being roasted, and suggests he’d like Jesse Watters to host (33:03).
9. White House, Upgrades, and Real Estate
- Oval Office: Trump describes the power of the room, ongoing renovations, and the planned White House ballroom (48:52).
- American Construction Feats: Expounds on the Panama Canal, its legacy, and critiques Jimmy Carter for “giving it away” (38:41).
10. Lighthearted and Closing Moments
- Golf at The Masters: When asked who he’ll root for, Trump deftly avoids naming a favorite, listing several prominent players (53:09).
- Wrap-Up: The group remarks on Trump’s quick thinking, humor, and energy in a live setting, contrasting him favorably with Biden in terms of media presence (56:01).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“You can't let a madman or you can't let a mad ideology have a nuclear weapon.”
– President Trump (13:29) -
“If they had to choose between a defeated Iran ... or an embarrassed Trump with an empowered Iran, they would pick the latter.”
– Jesse Watters (09:32) -
On Iran's regime:
“There are not a lot of takers to be the head of Iran right now. I will tell you, they're all fighting not to.” – Trump (19:03) -
On bipartisanship and patriotism:
“It's completely appropriate to be uneasy about a war, but it's what you do with the unease that helps, whether it helps or it doesn't.”
– Greg Gutfeld (10:15) -
On congressional gridlock:
“I would terminate the filibuster and I'd take a vote and I'd have everything done.” – Trump (37:03) -
On pop culture and the correspondents’ dinner:
“I actually enjoyed it, but I never did it. And I said, I'll do it now.” – Trump (33:03) -
On White House projects:
“We're building a really beautiful... I think it'll be one of the most beautiful, maybe the most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world.” – Trump (51:07) -
On Markwayne Mullen and Kimmel’s jokes:
“He's got Trump derangement syndrome... Mark Wayne is fantastic. He's country smart.” – Trump (47:42–48:10)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment | Time | |-------------------------------------|------------| | Iran Conflict Overview | 01:34–07:44| | Domestic Political Debate | 09:32–11:57| | Start of Trump Interview | 12:34 | | Trump on No New Wars/Iran Justification | 13:29 | | Explanation of 10-Day Iran Pause | 16:49–20:06| | What Does Winning Look Like? | 20:51 | | MAGA/Iran/Election Comments | 23:30–26:06| | Polling Remarks & Panel Banter | 26:18–27:16| | Pop Culture/White House Dinner | 32:44–33:03| | Infrastructure & Ballroom Talk | 48:52–52:58| | Golf/Masters Question | 53:01–54:31| | Trump’s Closing Thoughts | 54:35–55:24| | Hosts' Reflections on Interview | 55:29–57:02|
Flow, Tone, and Style
The episode maintains the panel’s signature combative yet playful style. Trump is characteristically discursive, moving from hard policy on Iran to anecdotes about media, rival politicians, and celebrities, always blending serious national security stakes with personal stories and sharp political jabs. The hosts both challenge and flatter him, drawing out both “commander-in-chief” answers and reality-TV banter.
Conclusion
This episode provides a window into Trump's thinking and the FOX panel's framing during a dramatic phase of international crisis and domestic partisanship. It mixes blunt U.S. strategic claims, inside anecdotes, and campaign-style rhetoric with moments of lightness, illustrative of both The Five’s format and the Trump media phenomenon.