Trump Has Disaster in Oval as Presser Goes Off the Rails

Summary

Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast - "Trump Has Disaster in Oval as Presser Goes Off the Rails"

Release Date: August 7, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

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Overview

In this episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, the Meiselas brothers delve into the recent tumultuous press conference held by former President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. The discussion centers around Trump's controversial statements, his handling of various national issues, and the implications for American democracy. The brothers combine insightful analysis with their characteristic humor, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the current political climate.

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Trump's Disastrous Press Conference

The episode begins with a detailed breakdown of Trump's press conference, which was widely regarded as a fiasco. The brothers highlight how Trump's responses deviated from the expected decorum of presidential addresses, leading to widespread criticism.

Trump (00:44): "And that's just a way of trying to divert attention to something that's total bullshit. Okay?"

Timestamp: [00:44]

Handling of the Jeffrey Epstein Case

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on Trump's remarks regarding Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The brothers analyze Trump's dismissive attitude towards the serious allegations and the legal maneuvers involved.

Trump (01:25): "No, I haven't."

Trump (01:26): "Todd is a very respected person all over the country, all over the."

Timestamp: [01:25] - [01:35]

The brothers criticize Trump's labeling of the Epstein situation as a "hoax," pointing out the contradictions in his actions versus his statements.

Trump (02:32): "The whole thing is a hoax. It's put out by the Democrats because we've had the most successful six months in the history of our country. And that's just a way of trying to divert attention to something that's total bullshit."

Timestamp: [02:32]

Relations with Vladimir Putin and Sanctions

The podcast delves into Trump's interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly concerning the imposition of sanctions. The brothers express concern over Trump's inconsistent statements regarding sanctions and his reliance on personal liaisons.

Trump (03:30): "Doing can answer the question yet. I'll tell you in a matter of weeks, maybe less."

Timestamp: [03:30]

They discuss the implications of not sanctioning Putin further and the potential risks of such diplomatic engagements.

Attacks on Media Personalities

Trump's unexpected outbursts against media figures like Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon are dissected for their impact on public discourse.

Trump (04:48): "Colbert has no talent. I mean, I could take anybody here. I could go outside in the beautiful streets and pick a couple of people that do just as well, or better they get higher ratings than he did. He's got no talent. Fallon has no talent. Kimmel has no talent..."

Timestamp: [04:48]

The brothers analyze how these personal attacks reflect Trump's broader strategy of delegitimizing the media.

Operation Warp Speed and mRNA Vaccines

The conversation shifts to public health, specifically Trump's role in Operation Warp Speed and the subsequent funding cuts to mRNA vaccine research.

Trump (07:55): "We are speaking about it. We have meetings about it tomorrow, actually tomorrow at 12 o'clock and we'll determine. But we're looking for other answers to other problems, to other sicknesses and diseases."

Timestamp: [07:55]

The brothers express skepticism over the abrupt policy changes and the potential long-term effects on vaccine development.

Addressing Crime in Washington D.C.

Trump's comments on the rising crime rates in Washington D.C. and his proposals to involve the National Guard are examined.

Trump (10:01): "Is that an option? We're considering it, yeah. Because the crime is, is ridiculous. I could show you a chart comparing D.C. to other locations and you're not going to want to see what it looks like."

Timestamp: [10:01]

The brothers discuss the feasibility and potential consequences of taking over the D.C. police force.

Federal Reserve and Wall Street Influence

The episode critiques Trump's admission that all Federal Reserve chairman candidates are from Wall Street, highlighting concerns about favoritism towards financial institutions over Main Street.

Trump (10:38): "Yeah, essentially we're all from Wall street, aren't we?"

Timestamp: [10:38]

The brothers debate the implications of such statements on economic policy and public trust in financial regulation.

Economic Claims and Tariffs

Trump's assertions about declining costs and his aggressive stance on tariffs, especially concerning semiconductors, are analyzed.

Trump (10:42): "Of course, [costs] are down. I just hope when they watch these shows, I watch this, I won't use names because I just make them better known that nobody knows who they are."

Timestamp: [10:42]

Trump (13:59): "It's a big factor. So 100% tariff on all chips and semiconductors coming into the United States. But if you've made a commitment to build, or if you're in the process of building, as many are, there is no tariff."

Timestamp: [13:59]

The brothers evaluate the potential economic impact of these tariffs and their alignment with broader trade policies.

Final Remarks and Future Outlook

The podcast concludes with reflections on Trump's future political maneuvers and the potential ramifications for American democracy. The brothers emphasize the importance of holding leaders accountable and safeguarding democratic institutions against authoritarian tendencies.

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Conclusion

In this episode, The MeidasTouch Podcast provides a thorough analysis of Donald Trump's recent press conference, unpacking his controversial statements and policies. Through insightful commentary and engaging discussion, the Meiselas brothers underscore the challenges facing American democracy and the critical need for informed citizenry.

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For more in-depth discussions and updates, subscribe to The MeidasTouch Podcast and join the MeidasMighty community.

Transcript

[News Anchor]

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[Donald Trump]

And that's just a way of trying to divert attention to something that's total bullshit. Okay?

[News Anchor]

Donald Trump was then asked if he's been briefed about any of the meetings between his former criminal defense attorney turned number two at the Department of Justice, Tod and Ghislaine Maxwell. And then, as you know, Ghislaine Maxwell was moved from the prison she was in in Tallahassee to a minimum security facility in Texas and got a special waiver from Trump's Department of Justice since she's a convicted sex trafficker and Donald Trump lies and claims. No, I haven't been briefed at all about this. Here, play this clip. Mr. President, have you been briefed on what Ghislaine Maxwell told Todd Blanche?

[Donald Trump]

No, I haven't.

[News Anchor]

So you don't know whether you came up in the conversation?

[Donald Trump]

Todd is a very respected person all over the country, all over the. So I don't know.

[News Anchor]

Again, he's a total liar. Then Donald Trump, again on the Epstein issue, says the whole thing is a hoax. Well, what aspect of it is a hoax? Then why are you having your number two at the DOJ meet with her and grant her immunity? Tell that to the victims who suffered as a result of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking and sex assault. Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Mr. President, the two cabins. Very good.

[News Anchor]

Mr. President, is Vice president hosting a gathering this evening to talk about how to respond to the Epstein situation?

[Donald Trump]

Is he working on what?

[News Anchor]

Hosting some kind of gathering of top advisors this evening to talk about how to respond to the Epstein situation?

[Donald Trump]

I don't know. I could ask you that question. I don't know of it, but I Think, here's the man right here.

[News Anchor]

I saw a report today, and it's completely fake news. We're not meeting to talk about the Epstein situation. And I think the reporter who reported it needs to get better sources.

[Donald Trump]

The whole thing is a hoax. It's put out by the Democrats because we've had the most successful six months in the history of our country. And that's just a way of trying to divert attention to something that's total bullshit.

[News Anchor]

Okay, then Donald Trump is asked about his call with Putin. Earlier in the day, you may have heard the news that Donald Trump said he will not be sanctioning Putin anymore. Remember, before he said two weeks, then he said 60 days or 50 days, then he said 10 days or 14 days. Well, he says no sanctions because he said there was a good conversation between his regime and Putin's regime with Wit Cough, Donald Trump's liaison. And so Donald Trump here is asked, well, how do you know Putin is not just playing you again? And Donald Trump's like, well, we'll find out in a few weeks. I don't really know. Here, play this clip. You say you would know if Putin was you. Any confidence that he is or isn't.

[Donald Trump]

Doing can answer the question yet. I'll tell you in a matter of weeks, maybe less.

[News Anchor]

And Donald Trump posted earlier today, my special envoy, Steve Witkoff, just had a highly productive meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Great progress was made. Afterwards, I updated some of our European allies. Everyone agrees this war must come to a close, and we will work towards that in days and weeks to come. Thank you for your attention to this matter. In other words, Donald Trump came to Putin again. Here, a reporter asked Donald Trump, did Putin make some sort of concessions? How are you going meet with him? When are you going to meet with him? And then Donald Trump's like, I don't know. Here, play this clip. Mr. President, what was the breakthrough today? Did Vladimir Putin make some kind of concession that he hasn't been willing to make before?

[Donald Trump]

I don't call it a breakthrough. I mean, we've been working on this a long time. There are thousands of young people dying, mostly soldiers, but also, you know, missiles being hit into Kiev and other places. But in terms of soldiers, I think Russia's lost over 20,000 since the beginning of the year. 20,000. And I guess the estimate for Ukraine is about 9,000. It's a. It's a terrible. It's a terrible situation. We want to get it stopped, you.

[News Anchor]

Know, Then Donald Trump starts attacking Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon. Let's play it.

[Donald Trump]

Colbert has no talent. I mean, I could take anybody here. I could go outside in the beautiful streets and pick a couple of people that do just as well, or better they get higher ratings than he did. He's got no talent. Fallon has no talent. Kimmel has no talent. They're next. They're going to be going. I hear they're going to be going. I don't know. But I would imagine because they get, you know, Colbert has better ratings than Kimmel or Fallon.

[News Anchor]

You know that then we've seen Donald Trump do this before. His treasury secretary, Scott Besant, is standing right behind him. He doesn't realize that the person he's talking about is literally standing right there. Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Thanks as well to Secretary of the Treasury Scott Besant and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick for being here, wherever you may be. Oh, there you are. Hello, fellas. I missed you.

[News Anchor]

Then Donald Trump starts attacking Howard Stern. Let's play it.

[Donald Trump]

Howard Stern is the name I haven't heard. I used to do a show, we used to have fun, but I haven't heard that name in a long time. What happened? He got terminated. Yeah. They're going to separate ways because I think what they're offering salary wise is real low than what he's getting. You know when he went down? Whatever you want. You know when he went down? No, before, when he endorsed Hillary Clinton. He lost his audience. People said, give me a break. He went down when he endorsed Hillary Clinton.

[News Anchor]

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[Donald Trump]

Well, we're going to look at that. We're talking about it and they're doing a very good job. And you know, that is a pass with Operation Warp Speed was whether you're Republican or Democrat considered one of the most incredible things ever done in this country. The efficiency, the, the way it was done, the distribution, everything about it was, has been amazing. But you know, that was now a long time ago. And we're on to other things. But we are speaking about it. We have meetings about it in tomorrow, actually tomorrow at 12 o' clock and we'll determine. But we're looking for other answers to other problems, to other sicknesses and diseases. And I think we're doing really well. Yes.

[News Anchor]

Then Apple CEO Tim Cook gives Donald Trump a golden engraving. More gifts to Donald Trump. That's how you, I guess, get on Donald Trump's good side by giving him golden things. Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Yes, please.

[News Anchor]

This box was made California. And this glass comes off morning line. It's engraved for President Trump.

[Donald Trump]

It's a unique unit of one.

[News Anchor]

It was designed by a US Marine Corps corporal, a 401 that works at Apple.

[Donald Trump]

Now he's done well, designed it for you.

[News Anchor]

And the base comes from Utah and is 24 karat gold and it sits.

[Donald Trump]

I'll take the liberty of setting it off. Well, let's see. There we go.

[News Anchor]

Congratulations.

[Donald Trump]

The great people of Kentucky.

[News Anchor]

Donald Trump is then asked if he's considering taking over the D.C. police. He says, yep, play it. Are you considering taking over the D.C. police?

[Donald Trump]

Is that an option? We're considering it, yeah. Because the crime is, is ridiculous. I could show you A chart comparing D.C. to other locations and you're not going to want to see what it looks like.

[News Anchor]

Donald Trump is asked if the Federal Reserve chairman candidates he's looking at are from Wall Street. He goes, we're all from Wal Street. Well, at least he's being, I guess, somewhat candid there. This is a regime that cares about Wall street, not Main Street. Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Thank you. I don't, I really don't think you.

[News Anchor]

Take it actually from Wall Street, Mr. President.

[Donald Trump]

Yeah, essentially we're all from Wall street, aren't we? You know, when you get right down to it, the term Wall Street. Yeah, please.

[News Anchor]

Donald Trump then lies and says all costs are going down. Let's play it down.

[Donald Trump]

Of course, are down. I just hope when they watch these shows, I watch this, I won't use names because I just make them better known that nobody knows who they are. But I watch this group of people on, on CNN and MSDNC to the same thing where they say, well, costs have gone up. Costs haven't gone up, they've gone down. The, I'm telling you, the thing that's gone up is stock, stock prices and success of our country. Our country is really, really doing well. Successful. Yes, ma'. Am.

[News Anchor]

Donald Trump then lies and says Japan and other countries are giving us billions of do and signing bonuses. That's a lie. Let's play it.

[Donald Trump]

I won't be so specific other than to say because we don't even know what the final number is. We just made a deal, as you know, with the EU where they're paying hundreds of billions of dollars, Japan paying hundreds of billions of dollars and numerous other countries paying hundreds of billions of dollars. And we're not even completed there. And as you know, they found 25 billion three weeks ago. They said we have a surplus of $25 billion. And they said, where did this come from? I said, check the tariffs. And they checked. They said, you're right, that's where it came from. And we've really just started. This is just in its infancy.

[News Anchor]

So we have a Donald Trump talks about sending the national guard into Washington, D.C. let's play it.

[Donald Trump]

Much of it. We're going to, we're going to do something about it. So whether you call it federalized or what, and that also includes the graffiti that you see the papers all over the place, the roads that are in bad shape, the medians that are falling down, the median in between roads that's falling down. We're going to beautify the city. We're going to make it beautiful. And what a shame, the rate of crime, the rate of muggings, killings and everything else. We're not going to let it. And that includes bringing in the National Guard maybe very quickly too.

[News Anchor]

Do you want Congress to look at overturning the D.C. home Rule Act?

[Donald Trump]

We're going to look at that. In fact, they are. The lawyers are already studying it.

[News Anchor]

Donald Trump gives a bunch of word salad about Putin and Zelensky. Let's play it. Yes, Mr. President, have Putin and Zelensky agreed to a summit yet? And where and when would that be? What would that be?

[Donald Trump]

Well, there's a very good prospect that they will, and we haven't determined where, but we had some very good talks with President Putin today. And there's a very good chance that we could be ending the, ending the round, ending the end of that road. That road was long and continues to be long. But there's a good chance that there will be a meeting very soon.

[News Anchor]

Then Donald Trump starts to blame former President Biden here. Let's play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

This was, was on his watch. And you know, it's funny, we had no land was taken from Trump. It was taken from Bush, it was taken from Biden. The whole thing they would take from Biden weren't for us, but it was. And it was taken by Obama. Take a look at what was taken with all of the land that was taken. Nothing was taken by Russia from us. Not one ounce of land was taken.

[News Anchor]

Then Donald Trump talks about putting tariffs on semiconductors. In other words, Taiwan, one of our allies, is going to be targeted by Donald Trump. Let's play that clip.

[Donald Trump]

It's a big factor. So 100% tariff on all chips and semiconductors coming into the United States. But if you've made a commitment to build, or if you're in the process of building, as many are, there is no tariff. Okay? If for some reason you say you're building and you don't build, then we go back and get, we add it up, it accumulates and we charge you at a later date, you have to pay, and that's a guarantee. So that's a big statement. And I think the chip companies are all coming back home. They're all coming back. You know, we started with intel and gradually intel was just taking over the, over the coals. They were taken to the cleaners, frankly, and moved to other places, in particular Taiwan. But I think a lot of those, a lot of those companies are coming back and they're coming back very rapidly. So that's a big statement, 100% tariff.

[News Anchor]

And then here is Donald Trump's envoy, Witkoff, a real estate investor with zero diplomatic experience or foreign policy experience, meeting with his good friend Putin once again. Here, let's play it. By the way, doesn't Putin's office look a whole lot like the way Donald Trump decorates his stuff and the way Epstein decorates his stuff? Well, there you have it, folks. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe let's get to 6 million subscribers. Thank you for watching. Can't get enough Midas? Check out the Midas plus substack for ad Free articles, reports, podcasts, daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski and more. Sign up for free [e-mail].

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