The MeidasTouch Podcast – Episode Summary
Episode: Trump Has Awful Day as Trip Goes Horribly Wrong
Date: October 28, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Overview
This episode covers former President Donald Trump’s widely criticized speech at a U.S. naval base in Japan. The MeidasTouch brothers break down the event’s most bizarre, false, and concerning moments, using their signature blend of political analysis, sharp critiques, and quick-witted banter to expose what they describe as Trump's lies, confusion, and lack of leadership. The hosts also provide real-world context on inflation, the current economic situation in the United States, and the impact of Trump-era policies, ending with a call for listeners to stay vigilant and united against the current administration’s actions.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Trump’s 'Disastrous' Speech in Japan
- Opening Assessment: The hosts introduce clips from Trump’s speech to U.S. troops in Japan, calling it "one of the worst speeches he's given recently. Utterly embarrassing." (02:32)
- Clumsy Flattery & Job Envy: Trump tells the troops he would love to have their job, which the hosts mock for its lack of sincerity and self-awareness.
- Notable Quote: “Oh, I'd love to have your job at a very special Donald, did you.” (Donald Trump, 02:46)
2. Dubious Claims About the Economy
- Claiming Victory Over Inflation: Trump asserts that inflation has been defeated, wages are rising, and "everyone's doing well" in America, falsely taking credit for economic success.
- Notable Quote: “Inflation has been defeated, and workers wages are raising at the fastest pace in 60 years… Everyone in our country is now doing well.” (Donald Trump, 03:21)
- Host Reaction: The hosts immediately flag these remarks as lies, pointing to current hardships and the economic struggles affecting everyday Americans (06:26).
3. Rambling Non-Sequiturs & Grandiosity
- Re-naming the Gulf of Mexico: Trump bizarrely claims he renamed the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.”
- Notable Quote: “They don't say it with a smile. It's called the Gulf of America. How did that happen? Right?” (Donald Trump, 04:17)
- Hosts’ Take: The brothers describe Trump as 'glitching', ranting on random topics, and being “laughed at like a clown” by his audience (07:24).
4. Steamships & Outdated Technology
- Nostalgia for Steam Power: Trump advocates for a return to steam-powered catapults and hydraulic elevators on ships, dismissing modern electric technologies.
- Notable Quote: “I like steam. We're going to go back to steam.” (Donald Trump, 07:47)
- Host Commentary: “Xi Jinping in China just must be laughing right now.” (09:20)
5. False Boasts and Military Fantasies
- Missile Delivery Claims: Trump says he “hugged” missiles being delivered to Japan and takes credit for arms deals.
- Notable Quote: “I hugged them. We need them. They're the best in the world. Nobody has them like we have them.” (Donald Trump, 09:41)
- Elevator and Magnet Confusion: Trump muses about whether elevators should use hydraulics or magnets, leading to confused laughter from the hosts.
6. Extreme Immigration Rhetoric
- Demonizing Migrants: Trump claims 25 million dangerous individuals have entered America, coming from “prisons and insane asylums.”
- Notable Quote: “25 million people poured into our country… they came from mental institutions and insane asylum… 11,388 were murderers, half of which committed more than one murder.” (Donald Trump, 12:18)
- Host Rebuttal: The brothers note ICE’s participation in the mass detention of innocent people, pushing back on Trump’s narrative (11:57).
7. Revisionist History and Election Denial
- False War Claims: Trump claims to have ended eight wars in eight months and boasts about tariff revenue.
- Quote: “I ended eight wars in eight months, the most of any president in history. No president that we know has ever ended any war.” (Donald Trump, 13:24)
- 2020 Election Denial: Trump repeats the debunked claim he won the 2020 election “by a lot.”
- Quote: “We won the second election by a lot, so we had to just prove it by winning the third… It was an amazing victory.” (Donald Trump, 14:42)
- Host Analysis: The hosts call this “grotesque” and a “vicious lie,” underscoring the danger of normalizing such rhetoric before U.S. troops and the public (14:53).
8. Real Economic Context & Public Mood
- Contradicting Trump’s Economic Claims:
- Food banks are overwhelmed as SNAP cuts loom.
- Grocery prices and inflation remain high; Americans are having to water down household items to save money.
- Massive job cuts (e.g., UPS laying off 48,000 workers) lead to stock price surges, benefiting only corporations (15:50–17:41).
- Host Perspective: “That's what it feels like to live in the Trump regime. Starvation, panic, under attack.” (18:51)
9. Military Spectacle Amid Shutdown
- Flyovers in D.C. during Government Shutdown:
- Fighter jets fly over the National Mall for promotional content as federal workers go unpaid.
- Local commentary expresses exhaustion and fear about militarization and government dysfunction (17:41–18:51).
Notable Quotes
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:32 | Political Commentator | “One of the worst speeches he's given recently. Utterly embarrassing.” | | 03:21 | Donald Trump | “Inflation has been defeated, and workers wages are raising at the fastest pace in 60 years… Everyone’s doing well.” | | 04:17 | Donald Trump | “It's called the Gulf of America… How did that happen? Right?” | | 07:47 | Donald Trump | “I like steam. We're going to go back to steam.” | | 09:41 | Donald Trump | “I hugged them. We need them. They're the best in the world. Nobody has them like we have them.” | | 12:18 | Donald Trump | “25 million people poured into our country… 11,388 were murderers…” | | 13:24 | Donald Trump | “I ended eight wars in eight months, the most of any president in history.” | | 14:42 | Donald Trump | “We won the second election by a lot, so we had to just prove it by winning the third…” | | 18:51 | Host | “Starvation, panic, under attack. But we the people need to stay together right now more than ever and fight back against this despicable, vile regime.” |
Memorable Moments
- Trump’s “Gulf of America” ramble (04:17)
- His awkward confession: “I never liked good looking people. I’ve never admitted that before” (06:42)
- Steamships and catapults tangent (07:47–08:55)
- The missile hugging comment (09:41)
- Off-the-rails elevator/magnet theory (13:03)
- Electoral denial and “winning the third” (14:42)
Important Timestamps
| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|------------| | Trump’s speech critique begins | 02:32 | | Economic claims and host rebuttal | 03:21–06:26| | Gulf of America and tech rants | 04:17–09:20| | Immigration/ICE segment | 11:57–12:57| | Bizarre tech comments (elevators/magnets) | 13:03 | | Revisionist history & election denial | 13:24–14:53| | Real economic context from hosts | 14:53–17:41| | DC flyover/shutdown commentary | 17:41–18:51| | Closing call to action | 18:51 |
Tone and Style
The brothers’ style is sharp, sarcastic, and comedic while maintaining a direct, factual approach when highlighting falsehoods and dangers in Trump’s rhetoric and policy claims. They leverage Trump’s own words, interspersed with their mockery and contextual factual analysis to drive their points home. The tone remains unapologetically critical of Trump and supportive of pro-democracy values, consistent with the podcast's regular format.
Conclusion
This episode uses Donald Trump’s chaotic and factually misleading naval base speech as a springboard for critiquing his ongoing impact on American political discourse, policy, and public morale. The MeidasTouch hosts ground their analysis in contrasting realities faced by average Americans, emphasizing the need for truth, unity, and collective action in defense of democracy.