The MeidasTouch Podcast Episode: Trump Crashes Out in Cabinet Meeting Over War Date: March 26, 2026
Overview
In this explosive episode, the Meiselas brothers dissect a chaotic and highly controversial White House Cabinet meeting led by Donald Trump, focusing on his response to the ongoing war in Iran. The episode features extended clips of Trump’s off-script comments about military strategy, US oil policy, NATO, Iran, his cognitive abilities, and more, providing real-time reactions and fact-checking. The brothers highlight the global implications of Trump's leadership style during a major international crisis and expose the confusion and spectacle inside the administration.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Trump’s Opening Remarks and Iran War Strategy
- Trump denies dependence on the Strait of Hormuz: Asserts the US doesn’t need Middle East oil.
- Quote: "We don't need the Almost Straight. We don't need it. We don't need it 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." — Donald Trump [02:20]
- NATO as a failed test: Trump blames NATO for not supporting his Iran campaign, accusing alliance members of abandonment.
- Quote: "This was a test for data. ... If you don't do that, we're going to remember, just remember ... Never forget, never forget." — Donald Trump [02:58]
- Dismisses the war as a “detour”: Minimizes the gravity, portraying the Iran conflict as a brief distraction.
- Quote: "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." — Donald Trump [03:41]
2. Escalating Rhetoric: On Iran and Oil
- Aggressive language against Iran:
- Quote: "We're beating the shit out of them. We're beating the shit out of Iran." — Donald Trump [04:24]
- Oil seizure plans floated: Contemplates taking Iran’s oil, referencing Venezuela as precedent.
- Quote: "It's an option. I mean, I wouldn't talk about it, but it's an option." — Donald Trump [04:33]
3. Trump on Secrecy, Cognitive Health, and the 25th Amendment
- Openly references the 25th Amendment: Implies that his own cabinet might remove him if he reveals too much about war plans.
- Quote: "If I did [talk about our plans], I wouldn't be sitting here for long. They probably, what is it called? The 25th Amendment..." — Donald Trump [05:03]
- Attack on ‘mental disability’ in leadership: Suggests cognitive impairment in office is unacceptable, while belittling others.
- Quote: "I don't want a person with mental disability to be my president." — Donald Trump [05:37]; Repeated at [08:17]
- Insists on his cognitive fitness: Boasts about acing cognitive tests, challenges others to do the same.
- Quote: "I took it three times. I aced it all three times in front of numerous doctors that I have no idea who they are. ... One doctor said, I've never seen anybody get them all right." — Donald Trump [06:54]
4. Foreign Relations—NATO, Germany, UK
- Critical of NATO and Germany: Accuses allies of not stepping up in Iran compared to US help for Ukraine.
- Quote: "When I heard the head of Germany say, this is not our war about Iran, I said, well, Ukraine's not our war. ... I thought it was a very inappropriate statement." — Donald Trump [08:50]
- UK’s minimal involvement mocked: Derides British support as too little, too late, claiming US military superiority.
- Quote: "We'll send our aircraft carrier, which aren't the best aircraft carriers, by the way. They're toys compared to what we have. ... Don't bother. We don't need it." — Donald Trump [13:01]
5. Unverifiable Claims and Fact Checks
- Alleged Iranian ‘gift’: Claims Iran allowed eight US oil tankers through Hormuz as a "present," citing Fox News—but fact-checked as false by Bloomberg.
- Quote: "We're going to let you have eight boats of oil. Eight boats. Eight big boats of oil." — Donald Trump [10:09]
- Host correction: "No sign of Donald Trump's eight oil boats in Hormuz. ... Perhaps Donald Trump is deranged and demented." — Podcast Host [09:30]
6. Cabinet Members Step In:
- Pete Hegseth compares Iran to Iraq surge: Draws questionable historical parallels.
- Quote: "In 2007, I helped lead the surge. The public fight for the Iraq surge." — Pete Hegseth [11:33]
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner: Suggest Iran tried to stall for time awaiting a weaker US president.
- Quote: "The Iranians were there to buy time until a weaker president arrived." — Steve Witkoff (paraphrased) [14:58]
- Marco Rubio: Says the world should thank Trump for his actions.
- Quote: "...countries around the world ... should actually be grateful that the United States has a president that's willing to confront a threat like this..." — Marco Rubio [15:33]
- JD Vance: Adds religious overtones, connecting the war to Holy Week for Christians.
- Quote: "We are about to enter ... the most important week of the Christian calendar ... I wish you all very blessed Easter..." — JD Vance [15:56]
7. Trump’s Tangents: The Pen and the Kennedy Center
- Trump rails against expensive government pens and shares a lengthy anecdote comparing his preferred pens to Biden’s.
- Quote: "This pen is very inexpensive, but it writes well. I like it. ... I'm ... by nature, I don't ... it's the government. I love the government like I love myself economically. I want to save money." — Donald Trump [16:37]
- Describes "arc de triumph," Kennedy Center redesign, and renovation projects as key priorities amidst war.
- Quote: "We're building an arc, a triumphal arc ... We're fixing up the, what was the Kennedy Center." — Donald Trump [12:12]
8. Resource Diversions and Contradictions
- Trump admits redirecting munitions from Ukraine to Middle East, rationalizing it as standard practice.
- Quote: "We have tremendous amounts of ammunition ... Sometimes we take from one and we use for another. ... We sell it to NATO and they probably give it to Ukraine." — Donald Trump [19:27]
- On Iran’s tariffs in Hormuz, he acknowledges the regime is collecting shipping tolls, despite claiming their capability has diminished.
- Quote: "Should Iran be able to charge a toll... they're doing it a little bit. ... their capability is a lot less than it was two weeks ago." — Donald Trump [20:29]
9. Cabinet Economic Spin
- Treasury Secretary Scott Besant claims Americans embrace “volatility” for long-term peace and energy security. Broader implications are questioned by the hosts.
- Quote: "Many people ... 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." — Scott Besant [18:32]
- "Economic strength is fighting off this evil regime..." [21:05]
Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes
- "We're beating the shit out of them. ... It's an option [to take Iran's oil]." — Donald Trump [04:24-04:33]
- "If I did [reveal my plans], I wouldn't be sitting here for long. ... The 25th Amendment." — Donald Trump [05:03]
- "I don't want a person with mental disability to be my president." — Donald Trump [05:37; repeated 08:17]
- "I took [the cognitive test] three times. I aced it all three times in front of numerous doctors..." — Donald Trump [06:54]
- "When I heard ... this is not our war about Iran, I said, well, Ukraine's not our war. ... It was a very inappropriate statement." — Donald Trump [08:50]
- "We're going to let you have eight boats of oil. ... I watched it on Fox." — Donald Trump [10:09]
Host immediately debunks with Bloomberg tanker data [09:30] - "This pen is very inexpensive, but it writes well. ... I love the government like I love myself economically. I want to save money." — Donald Trump [16:37]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 02:04 Trump’s Cabinet Meeting Introduction
- 02:20 Trump denies US dependence on Middle East oil
- 02:58 Trump complains about NATO’s lack of support
- 03:41 Trump downplays the Iran war as a “detour”
- 04:24 Trump’s tough talk on Iran; admits considering oil seizure
- 05:03 Trump on secrecy, 25th Amendment
- 05:37/08:17 Trump’s remarks on cognitive health and “mental disability”
- 06:54 Trump’s claim of acing cognitive tests
- 08:50/13:01 Trump criticizes Germany, UK, NATO
- 09:30/10:09 Trump’s “present” from Iran—a debunked oil tanker claim
- 11:33 Pete Hegseth’s Iraq surge comparison
- 12:12/16:37 Trump’s pen anecdote and Kennedy Center tangent
- 14:58/15:33/15:56 Cabinet members defend Trump’s Iran strategy (Kushner, Rubio, Vance)
- 18:32/21:05 Scott Besant on American resilience and “volatility”
- 19:27 Trump on redirecting munitions from Ukraine to Middle East
- 20:29 Trump on Iran charging tolls in Hormuz
Tone and Analysis
The episode is unfiltered, often incredulous, and heavily critical—characterized by the Meiselas brothers’ signature blend of deadpan fact-checking, exasperated reaction, and biting humor. They drive home the alarming reality of the administration’s approach to war, global alliances, and diplomacy, frequently highlighting Trump’s stream-of-consciousness style, contradictions, and outlandish priorities (such as pens and ballrooms) during a global crisis.
Conclusion
This podcast episode offers a real-time window into a tumultuous and divisive presidential Cabinet meeting, scrutinizing the gaps between rhetoric and reality in Trump’s war narrative, and raising pressing questions about decision-making at the highest level in the US government. The MeidasTouch team underlines the stakes for America and its allies, inviting listeners to reflect on leadership, accountability, and truth in a time of war.