Trump Crashes Out in Cabinet Meeting Over War

Summary

---

The MeidasTouch Podcast Episode Summary

Episode Title: Trump Crashes Out in Cabinet Meeting Over War
Date: March 26, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas (with guest commentary from Ron Filipkowski)
Main Theme/Purpose:
A detailed, critical breakdown of President Donald Trump’s catastrophic and bizarre performance during a White House cabinet meeting on the ongoing war with Iran, including further escalation with NATO, the shifting dynamics of global alliances, and the US's controversial war rhetoric. The episode scrutinizes Trump’s statements, fact-checks his claims, and highlights the implications for democracy and American credibility.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump's Cabinet Meltdown on Iran War (02:52–22:24)

• Trump’s assertion: “We don’t need the Strait of Hormuz at all... Our country is not affected by this. We have more. We have twice the amount of oil as Saudi Arabia or Russia and soon it’ll be three times the amount.” (Trump, 03:06)
• Host Ron Filipkowski’s commentary frames Trump’s statements as detached from reality and dangerous regarding global oil supplies and US military involvement.

2. NATO, "Tests," and Presidential Grievances (03:26–04:18)

• Trump claims the Iran war was “a test for NATO” and expresses disappointment at their response:

  “Just remember, remember this in a number of months from now. Remember my statements. They have an expression, a great expression, never forget. You can never forget.” (Trump, 03:47)

• Animosity towards NATO and threats of future retribution.

3. War as “A Detour”—Downplaying the Conflict (04:18–04:41)

• Trump describes the ongoing conflict as “a nice little detour” that “won’t be long,” minimizing its significance:

  “We had to take a little detour, go to Iran and we had to put out a fire.” (Trump, 04:25)

4. Crude Language on Iran and Oil (04:41–05:38)

• Trump boasts aggressively:

  “We’re beating the shit out of them. We’re beating the shit out of Iran.” (Trump, 05:10)

• On taking Iranian oil:

  “It’s an option. I mean, I wouldn’t talk about it, but it’s an option.” (Trump, 05:20)

5. Mental Fitness & The 25th Amendment (05:50–06:33)

• Admits he avoids “embarrassing” revelations to prevent cabinet from invoking the 25th Amendment:

  “If I did, I wouldn’t be sitting here for long. They’d probably, what is it called, the 25th Amendment... which they didn’t do with Biden, which is shocking.” (Trump, 05:50)

• Dismisses the possibility of a president with “mental disability”:

  “I don’t want a person with mental disability to be my president.” (Trump, 06:23)

• Host commentary points out the hypocrisy and irony in Trump’s attacks.

6. Desperation Denial & Media Attacks (06:33–07:40)

• Trump insists he's not desperate for a deal, lashes out at the New York Times and Wall Street Journal:

  “I read a story today that I’m desperate to make a deal. I’m not. If I was desperate, he’d be the first to know. ...I’m the opposite of desperate. I don’t care.” (Trump, 06:43)

7. Repeated Boasting About Passing Cognitive Tests (07:40–08:51)

• Trump says he “aced” three cognitive tests:

  “It starts off with an easy question and by the time you get to the middle, it gets tougher. ...I aced it all three times in front of numerous doctors.” (Trump, 07:40)

8. More Attacks: Germany, NATO, and "Inappropriate" Allies (09:25–15:24)

• Trump criticizes Germany for distancing itself from the Iran conflict, comparing it to the US approach on Ukraine:

  “Ukraine’s not our war. But I would like to see all those young people stop being killed. ...It’s like slaughterhouse.” (Trump, 09:36)

• Claims about Iran giving “a present”—eight boats of oil through Hormuz, immediately fact-checked as false by the host. (10:56)
• Trump attacks the UK and NATO as unreliable, ridicules their military assets:

  “Their aircraft carriers ... are toys compared to what we have.” (Trump, 13:48)

9. Cabinet Echo Chamber: Kushner, Witkoff, Rubio, Vance, Hegseth (15:24–16:42)

• Kushner & Witkoff argue Iran was only negotiating to buy time for a “weaker president.” (15:45)
• Marco Rubio claims the world should be “grateful” for Trump’s willingness to “confront a threat like this.” (16:09)
• JD Vance shades the war through a religious lens, wishing troops a “blessed Easter” during “the most important week of the Christian calendar.” (16:42)

10. Trump’s Rambling Tangents: The Sharpie, Redesigning the Kennedy Center, Fantasy Projects (12:58–13:35, 17:23–19:04)

• Trump spends time discussing gold and silver pens, government waste, and his preferred Sharpie:

  “I called the guy, I said, I’d like to use your pen, but I can’t have a gray thing with a big S on it saying Sharpie, as I’m signing a trillion dollar airplane contract…” (Trump, 17:23)

11. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant’s Take: Americans Supposedly Love “Short-term Volatility” (19:18–21:16)

• Bessant claims the American public will tolerate war volatility for fifty years of safety that will follow:

  “Many people... underestimate the will of the American people for short term volatility, for 50 years of safety...” (Scott Bessant, 19:18)

• Host calls this notion “utterly deranged.”

12. Diverting Arms from Ukraine & Admitting Strategy Swap (19:51–20:55)

• Trump admits the U.S. is rerouting munitions from Ukraine to the Middle East:

  “We have them in other countries... and we take, sometimes we take from one and we use for another. ...We sell it now to NATO and they probably give it to Ukraine.” (Trump, 20:13)

13. Strait of Hormuz Tolls—Contradicting Claims (20:55–21:49)

• Pressed on Iran charging passage through Hormuz, Trump waffles:

  “They shouldn’t be able to, but they’re doing it a little bit…their capability is a lot less than it was two weeks ago.” (Trump, 21:16)

14. Cabinet Final Thoughts: Economic Warfare & Euphemisms (21:49–22:24)

• Bessant frames US actions as both military and economic warfare:

  “Economic strength is fighting off this evil regime. ...We will overcome.” (Scott Bessant, 21:51)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We’re beating the shit out of them. ...That is how the U.S. president is communicating. It is so horrific.” – Ron Filipkowski, (04:41)
• “If I did, I wouldn’t be sitting here for long. ...They’d probably, what is it called, the 25th Amendment.” – Donald Trump, (05:50)
• “I don’t want a person with mental disability to be my president.” – Donald Trump, (06:23, 09:03)
• “This ballroom is going to be something that’s so beautiful for the city, so desperately needed by presidents.” – Donald Trump, (12:58)
• “You can never forget.” – Donald Trump on NATO and future retribution, (03:47)
• “Their aircraft carriers ... are toys compared to what we have.” – Donald Trump, (13:48)
• “I’m the only president that ever took a cognitive test. I took it three times. ...I aced it all three times.” – Donald Trump, (07:40)
• “They shouldn’t be able to [charge tolls], but they’re doing it a little bit.” – Donald Trump, (21:16)
• “Americans will tolerate short-term volatility for 50 years of safety.” – Scott Bessant, Treasury Secretary, (19:18)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:52 – Trump’s opening claims about U.S. oil independence and Hormuz
• 03:26 – NATO “test” and threats
• 04:18 – Describes war as a “detour”
• 04:41 – “Beating the shit out of Iran” & talk of seizing oil
• 05:50 – Comments on the 25th Amendment
• 06:23 – Mental fitness and “disability” remarks
• 06:43 – Claims of not being desperate for a deal
• 07:40 – Boasting about passing cognitive exams
• 09:36 – Critiques against Germany and Ukraine comparison
• 10:56 – Fantasy about Iran’s “gift” of oil boats
• 12:58 – Trump rambling about ballrooms and the Kennedy Center
• 13:48 – Attacks on NATO and UK military
• 15:45 – Kushner, Witkoff: Iran “wanted to buy time”
• 16:09 – Rubio: World should thank US
• 16:42 – Vance’s religious Easter remarks
• 17:23 – Trump’s epic about government pens and Sharpies
• 19:18 – Scott Bessant: Americans love “volatility”
• 20:13 – Trump admits diverting arms from Ukraine
• 21:16 – Tolls through Hormuz
• 21:51 – Bessant on economic warfare

---

Podcast Tone & Style

• The episode blends incredulous, sometimes darkly humorous commentary (typical of the MeidasTouch style) with serious condemnation of Trump’s erratic leadership.
• Ron Filipkowski and the hosts do not shy away from editorializing, using language like “utterly deranged,” “detached from reality,” and repeatedly highlighting the surreal, dangerous nature of the administration’s decision-making.

---

Summary for New Listeners

This episode offers a relentless, point-by-point dissection of Donald Trump’s shocking conduct in the White House as commander-in-chief during a major international crisis. The hosts and commentators fact-check the President's claims in real time, highlight internal contradictions, and underscore the risks posed by his leadership style, both for U.S. democracy and foreign policy.
Key moments include Trump’s combative and self-congratulatory asides, the bizarre focus on trivial matters like government pens, open disdain for allies, and cabinet officials enabling dangerous narratives—all peppered with the hosts’ sharp, sometimes droll, running commentary, making it essential listening for anyone seeking a critical, honest recap of recent political chaos.

Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer]

Not sure how to tackle your taxes? Are you sweating the small print? You may be experiencing FOMO, the fear of messing up the answer using TurboTax on Intuit credit Karma. They help you get your biggest refund, and then we help you do more with it with a personalized plan designed to help you hit your money goals. It's time to take your taxes to the max. Start filing today in the Credit Karma app. Springfest means more sun, more fun and more free at Lowe's. Keep your yard in line with an additional free EGO 56 volt battery when you buy a select Ego mower, trimmer or blower. Plus, keep landscaping fresh with Stay Green. 1 cubic foot garden soil 5 bags for $10. Our best lineup is here at Lowe's. Valid through 4 a while supplies last selection varies by location. Soil offer excludes Alaska and Hawaii.

[Commercial Voiceover]

This episode is brought to you by Welch's Fruit Snacks. Big news for your kids lunchbox Welch's Fruit Snacks are now made without any artificial dyes, a snack parents can feel good about and the same delicious taste kids can't get enough of. All made with no artificial dyes. Try Welch's fruit snacks today. Chronic migraine 15 or more headache days a month, each lasting four hours or more, can make me feel like a spectator in my own life. Botox Anabotulinum toxin a prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraines. It's not for those with 14 or fewer headache days a month. It's the number one prescribed branded chronic

[Medical Disclaimer Narrator]

migraine preventive treatment prescription Botox is injected by your doctor. Effects of Botox may spread hours to weeks after injection, causing serious symptoms. Alert your doctor right away as difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems or muscle weakness can be signs of a life threatening condition. Patients with these conditions before injection are at highest risk. Side effects may include allergic reactions, neck and injection site pain, fatigue and headache. Allergic reactions can include rash, welts, asthma symptoms and dizziness. Don't receive Botox if there's a skin infection. Tell your doctor your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions including als, Lou Gehrig's disease, myasthenia gravis or Lambert Eaton syndrome and medications including botulinum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious side effects.

[Commercial Voiceover]

Why wait? Ask your doctor, visit botoxchronicmigraine.com or call 1-844botox to learn more from lashes for days with the viral Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara to lift and color from their brilliant eye brightener. Thrive Cosmetics is the go to for amplifying everyday looks. Plus every product is 100% vegan, cruelty free and made with clean, skin loving ingredients that work with your skin. Amplify your everyday. Go to thrivecosmetics.com shine26 for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. That's thrive Cosmetics. C A U S e m e t-I c s.com shine26 Donald Trump just

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

crashed out during a cabinet meeting in the White House regarding this disastrous war in Iran. Donald Trump began by saying we, we don't even need the Strait of Hormuz. Watch what he said here. Play this clip and you know they're affected.

[Donald Trump]

The amazing thing is we don't need the hormone strait. We don't need it. We don't need it at all. We don't. We have so much oil. Our country is not affected by this. We have more. We have twice the amount of oil as Saudi Arabia or Russia and soon it'll be three times the amount. Chris, do you want to speak to that?

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

Then Donald Trump said that the reason he's now asking for NATO's help is that it was a test and they failed, held the test. And he will never forget, he will remember the fact that he thinks he's been screwed over by NATO because he and Netanyahu invaded Iran without telling NATO he was going to do it. Play this clip and

[Donald Trump]

nobody's a match for the United States, but they're not a match for the United States. It's small potatoes. That's why I'm so disappointed in NATO, because this was a test for NATO. This was a test. You can help us. You don't have to. But if you don't have, you know, if you don't do that, we're going to remember, just remember, remember this in a number of months from now. Remember my statements. They have an expression, a great expression, never forget, you can never forget.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

But for Donald Trump, he says this is just a nice little detour, a detour and it won't be long. Watch how deranged this is here.

[Donald Trump]

Play this clip has been put into our country in the last year and again we had to take a little detour. Won't be long, going to end soon. We had to take a little detour, go to Iran and we had to put out a fire.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

Next, a reporter asked Donald Trump, so are you going to take control of Iran's oil? And Donald Trump before answering that question says, we're beating the shit out of them. We're beating the shit out of Iran again. This is how the United States president is communicating. It is so horrific. And all it is doing it is emboldening the regime in Iran to try to galvanize support there against the United States. Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

The reason they want to make a deal is they have been just beat to shit.

[Pete Hegseth / JD Vance / Marco Rubio (various commentators)]

Are you thinking of taking control of Iran's oil?

[Donald Trump]

It's an option. I mean, I wouldn't talk about it, but it's an option.

[Pete Hegseth / JD Vance / Marco Rubio (various commentators)]

Is that something you thought about?

[Donald Trump]

Well, in Venezuela, we've done very well working with Venezuela. Certainly we've taken in billions and billions of dollars. And by the way, Venezuela is doing better right now than they've ever done in the history of their country.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

Next, Donald Trump says that if he were to do certain things and tell the press what his plans were, that his cabinet might invoke the 25th amendment. Let's play it embarrassed.

[Donald Trump]

I don't want to embarrass you because I think you're of I a friendly reporter. So I'm sorry, but, you know, I can't say what we're going to do because if I did, I wouldn't be sitting here for long. They'd probably, what is it called, the 25th Amendment, that institute the 25th Amendment, which, which they, which they didn't do with Biden, which is shocking.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

Then Donald Trump, after talking about the 25th Amendment, says, I don't want any people with mental disabilities to be the president. Okay, Donald, here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

I said, I have no problem with it. I don't want a person with mental disability to be my president. I mean, you don't want to have a person with mental disability being a president.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

And then Donald Trump said that he's been reading that he's desperate to make a deal. He goes, I'm not desperate. I'm not desperate. Let's play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

It would be nice if like the fake news New York Times, which are so fake, and the Wall Street Journal is terrible, terrible. I mean, I read a story today that I'm desperate to make a deal. I'm not. I don't. If I was desperate, he'd be the first to know. Pete, let's get the hell out of there. I'm the opposite of desperate. I don't care. I want to know. In fact, we have other targets we want to hit before we leave. We're hitting them on a daily basis. I don't talk about you. I can't talk about specifics. A lot of people say that wouldn't matter. Maybe it does matter. Who knows? But I Wouldn't talk. It's like the question this young lady asked. Sorry about. I embarrassed her. I don't want to embarrass you because I think you're. I think she's a friendly reporter. So I'm sorry. But, you know, I can't say what we're going to do because if I did, I wouldn't be sitting here for long. They probably, what is it called, the 25th Amendment.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

Then he starts talking about cognitive exams that he takes cognitive exams all the time. He aces it. He says, let's play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

I'll say it right now. I say it because no press ever reports it. I'm the only president that ever took a cognitive test. I took it three times. It's actually a very hard test for a lot of people. It wasn't hard for me, but it's a cognitive test. It starts off with an easy question, and by the time you get to the middle, it gets tougher. By the time you get to the end, very few people can answer those questions. They get very tough mathematical equations and things. I took it three times. I aced it all three times in front of numerous doctors that I have no idea who they are. And I was told when I went in, they said, doc Rani told me this. My current doctors, who are fantastic doctors, they said, well, if you take it, you know, it's Walter Reed. It's essentially a public hospital, and if you do badly, it's probably going to get out. But I aced it. I got them all right. And one doctor said, I've never seen anybody get them all right. I've been doing the test for 20 years. I want people, I would love to see anybody that's a president or a vice president or anybody that has any chance of being a president, I would like to see them take a cognitive test.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

And then he talks about he doesn't want stupid people to be in office. And again, do you know how weak this makes our nation look and how weak we are under this ridiculousness? Let's play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

I believe. And by the way, Gavin Newscomb, who is one of the candidates, I believe he took himself out of the running when he says he is. He suffers from mental disability. And a reporter said, it was terrible that I talked that way about somebody with mental disability. I said, I have no problem with it, but I don't want a person with mental disability to be my president.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

I mean, then Donald Trump attacks Germany and says that I think that Germany made very inappropriate statements about the U.S. let's play it.

[Donald Trump]

I think that's calming down a little bit. And I think we have a chance of getting it done. But we, it, it doesn't affect us thousands of miles away. That's why when I heard the head of Germany say, this is not our war, about Iran, I said, well, Ukraine's not our war. We helped, but Ukraine's not our. I thought it was a very inappropriate statement to make, but he made it. He can't erase it, but he felt that way. I said, well, you know, Ukraine's not our war. But. And it's not. But I would like to see all those young people stop being killed. I mean, they're being killed. It's like slaughterhouse. What's happening there is horrible.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

Then Trump says, can I reveal the gift that Iran gave us, the present that I've been talking about? They let eight of our ships go through the Strait of Hormuz. And I know that happened because I watched it on Fox. Fact check. No sign of Donald Trump's eight oil boats in Hormuz. The Bloomberg tanker tracker showed no evidence that eight large oil tankers that Donald Trump mentioned move through the Strait of Hormuz ever. The tracker did note two Iran linked LPG carriers leaving the Persian Gulf Thursday morning. Possibly the extra two Trump referred to. Or perhaps Donald Trump is deranged and demented. Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

You know I told you about a present, right, Steve? Can I reveal the present? You can do anything you want. They said to show you the fact that we're real and solid and we're there, we're going to let you have eight boats of oil. Eight boats. Eight big boats of oil. This was two days ago and they'll sail up tomorrow. That was three days ago. And I didn't think much about it. And then I watched the news and they said a very good anchor actually happened to be Fox. But I watched it and he said something's unusual happening. There are eight boats that are going right up the middle of the Hormo Strait. Eight big tankers are going, loaded up with oil right through. And I said, well, I guess, I guess they were right. And they were. They were real.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

Then Pete Hegseth started talking and Donald Trump fell asleep. Let's play it.

[Donald Trump]

We're here to win and we're full.

[Pete Hegseth / JD Vance / Marco Rubio (various commentators)]

Steep speed ahead.

[Donald Trump]

So, Steve, we appreciate your efforts.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

More from Hegseth. Right here, Hegseth starts comparing Iran to the surge in Iraq. Let's play it.

[Pete Hegseth / JD Vance / Marco Rubio (various commentators)]

This actually isn't something new to me.

[Donald Trump]

Maybe a young guy, Mr. President, but

[Pete Hegseth / JD Vance / Marco Rubio (various commentators)]

I'm not a rookie in this realm. In 2007, in 2007, I helped lead the surge, the public fight for the Iraq surge. Stood by and watched people stand in the Senate and declare the war is lost before it even started. Who was that? It was Harry Reid. That was the Democrats and the media working hand in glove. Back then, it was three years into a war. Now we're three weeks into an operation.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

Then Donald Trump wants to talk about his golden ballroom and his triumphal arcs and redesigning the Kennedy Center. This is top of his mind right now. Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

And we have some projects that are great. This ballroom is going to be something that's so beautiful for the city, so desperately needed by presidents. I mean, now it's no secret. The military wanted it more than anybody. It was supposed to be secret, but it became unsecret because of people that are really unpatriotic saying things. But doesn't matter, doesn't matter. It's going to be great. We're building an arc, a triumphal arc, which will be incredible for the city. Incredible. We're fixing up the. What was the Kennedy Center. I was honored when the board changed the name a little bit.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

Trump then talks about a famous island, although is he talking about Epstein Island. But then he starts attacking the UK and then again he starts attacking NATO even more. Let's play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

And I think we've been proven right. You know, they took one missile, it went 2,500 mosquitoes. They supposedly didn't have a missile like that. They had no missile with that capability. But they shot the now famous Ireland, the island that the UK was very afraid to give us because they didn't want to get dragged in. But we don't want to get dragged into their wars either. One thing we're very disappointed, I'll say it publicly, we're very disappointed with NATO because NATO has done absolutely nothing. And I've always said 25 years ago, I mean, I was somebody that wasn't a politician, but I was always involved in politics and I understood politics. I said 25 years ago that NATO's a paper tiger, but more importantly, that we'll come to their rescue, but they will never come to ours. And I want you to remember that we said this. They didn't come to our rescue. Now they all want to help. When they're annihilated, the other side is annihilated. They said, we'd love to send ships, actually made a statement, a couple of them, that we want to get involved when the war is over. No, it's supposed to get involved with the war's beginning or even before it begins. We had the UK Say that we'll send. This is three weeks ago, we'll send our aircraft carriers, which aren't the best aircraft carriers, by the way. They're toys compared to what we have. But we'll send our aircraft carrier when the war is over. I said, oh, that's wonderful. Thank you very much. Don't bother. We don't need it, and we don't need it, and we don't need them.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

Then we have Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who Iran has said they absolutely want to have no dealings with ever again, since they believe there were productive conversations the Friday back in February before the war began. And then Witkoff says, over here, Jared and I both agree that the Iranians were just trying to buy time. Let's play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

I have no doubt that we exhausted all efforts on behalf of a peaceful resolution, as you directed. Jared and I both agreed that the Iranians were there to buy time until a weaker president arrived. This was a flawed strategy, as your clear direction was to never allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon today or anytime in the future.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

More from Donald Trump's cabinet. Rubio talks about how I think that all the countries across the world should be. Thank you, Donald Trump. Let's play it here.

[Donald Trump]

Is achieved. And frankly, I think countries around the world, even those that are out there complaining about this a little bit, should actually be grateful that the United States has a president that's willing to confront a threat like this and not allow

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

it to continue to persist. Because JD Vance goes on this weird religious tangent and says, and we're fighting this war during the most holy day for the Christians. Okay, you play this clip.

[Pete Hegseth / JD Vance / Marco Rubio (various commentators)]

I turn it over to Marco is I'm very mindful, of course, that we have a lot of folks overseas fighting very ably for the United States of America. I know Pete and the whole team, we're very proud of them. But they're fighting at a time where we are about to enter as Christians, the most important week of the Christian calendar, the Holy week that celebrates the return of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem. And so I want to say to all of my fellow American Christians, but particularly those serving in the Gulf, that I wish you all very blessed Easter, a very blessed Holy week. And we continue to stand behind you and continue to support you every step of the way. Thank you, sir.

[Donald Trump]

Thank you very much.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

Donald Trump then starts talking about a pen and how he's got this pen here.

[Donald Trump]

Play this clip for 25 million and it would be better. It would be better. See this pen right here? This pen is an interesting example. It's the same thing. So this pen is very inexpensive, but it writes well. I like it. They can't have the pen the way it was. You know what it is? I don't want to give too much publicity, but they do treat me well. Sharpie. So I came here, they have thousand dollar pens. And you know, you hand pens out, you're signing and you hand them out, you're handing them to all these people. Sometimes you have 30, 40 people and they were a thousand dollars a piece. Beautiful pen. Ballpoint. Thousand. It was gold, silver, gorgeous. But I'm handing out to kids that don't even know what they are. What is this, Mommy? This is kids. They're getting a pen for a thousand dollars. They have no idea what it is. And I'm, and I feel guilty because I'm like, you know, I'm. By nature, I don't, you know, it's the government. I love the government like I love myself economically. I want to save money. So I'm saying, this is crazy. And it had another problem. They didn't write well. So I take it out and I sign and there's no ink. And I got all you people looking and you say, there must be something wrong with Trump. And there's no ink in the pen. And it costs $1,000 this one. I called the guy, I said, I'd like to use your pen, but I can't have a gray thing with a big S on it saying Sharpie, as I'm signing a trillion dollar airplane contract to buy brand new fighter jets, brand new B2 bombers, of which we just ordered plenty of. I can't do that with the press, usually pen, but I like the pen the best. But outside that, I could do like Biden did.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

You know more from Donald Trump's cabinet here. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant says that the American people are great with short term viability. Volatility, we'd be great with viability, but it's volatility. Watch this clip.

[Scott Bessant (Treasury Secretary)]

Thousands of American lives. Many people, especially the Democrats, underestimate the will of the American people for short term volatility, for 50 years of safety that we are going to have on the other side of this. And I believe energy prices will be lower, inflation will be lower. Before we had the appearance of security, which is not real security. Now the American people and the world will have absolute security.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

Really? You think the American people like volatility? Absolutely. Deranged. Then a reporter, reporter asks Donald Trump. So there has been a report that essentially the US Is looking to divert some munitions meant for Ukraine to the Middle East. So we're taking our weapons away from Ukraine as we did in Asia, and moving it to the Middle East. Donald Trump basically admits that's what we're doing. Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Thank you, Mr. President. There's been a report that potentially the US is looking at diverting some munitions, air defenses that were meant for Ukraine to the Middle East. Is there any accuracy to that? Is that something you're concerned? Well, I'd have to ask me, but we do that all the time. You know, we have tremendous amounts of ammunition. We have them in other countries like in Germany and all over Europe. We have, you know, we're packed and we take, sometimes we take from one and we use for another. We help Ukraine. Biden started and he gave $350 billion away. Too much, Way too much. And we sell it now to NATO. We sell it to NATO and they probably give it to Ukraine. Mostly I think they give it to Ukraine.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

But should Iran be able to charge boats countries now to use the Strait of Hormuz, Donald? Because before they weren't doing it. Now they have a stronger control on the Strait of Hormuz. And Trump's like they shouldn't be able to, but they're doing it a bit. But their capabilities are less than two weeks ago. How are their capabilities less if they're doing it right now? Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Let's see what kind of a job said that you hate. Excuse me, Should Iran be able to charge a toll for the straight up hormones they're charging some vessels to go through. Oh, yeah. Well, should they be able to? I mean they shouldn't be able to, but they're doing it a little bit. I don't know. Look, their capability is a lot less than it was two weeks ago. And with every week and every day, frankly, it gets less and less. All I can tell you is they're begging to make a deal. So let's see what happens. We may make a deal more from

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant. Let's play it.

[Scott Bessant (Treasury Secretary)]

Economic strength is fighting off this evil regime. The Iranians believe they are fighting a two front war. It is the military war that our great warriors are prosecuting. But on the other side, they are trying to take control of the global economy through a choke point that we believe does not exist and that we will overcome. Your historic operation at Epic Fury seized a generational opportunity to demolish a regime that has coordinated over four decades of global terror.

[Podcast Host (Ron Filipkowski)]

And there you have it, folks. Let me know what you think. Utterly deranged Hit. Subscribe let's get to 7 million subscribers. Thanks for watching. Want to stay plugged in? Become a subscriber to our [e-mail] you'll get daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski, add free episodes of our podcast, podcasts, and more exclusive content Only [e-mail].

[Narrator/Announcer]

The wrongs we must right, the fights we must win, the future we must secure together for our nation. This is what's in front of us. This determines what's next for all of us. We are Marines. We were made for this.