Trump has Disaster Trip to Versailles

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Trump has Disaster Trip to Versailles"

Show: The MeidasTouch Podcast
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Release Date: June 18, 2026

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1. Episode Overview

This episode centers on Donald Trump’s much-criticized visit to Versailles, where he held a chaotic and, by the hosts’ assessment, disastrous press conference. The Meiselas brothers break down Trump’s cavalier responses to major international issues—namely Iran, the Federal Reserve, and U.S. trade deals—while highlighting his apparent disinterest in substantive policy. The episode is laced with the brothers' signature banter and cutting political commentary, underscoring their concern for the state of U.S. democracy and Trump's lackadaisical approach to presidential responsibilities.

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2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

Trump's Attitude Toward Iranian Ballistic Missiles and Nuclear Issues

• Timestamp 01:39 – 03:17
  • Trump shrugs off concerns about Iran's ballistic missiles, arguing it's unfair for some countries to have them while others do not.
  • He plays down the importance of Iran’s “nuclear dust,” suggesting it's much less significant than active nuclear weapons.
  • Memorable Quote:
    • Trump: “A ballistic missile is not the same thing as what we're talking about when we talk nuclear...in relative proportion, I think it’s okay.” (02:12)
    • Trump: “Much less important because it’s very hard to get at that...the B-2 bombers and those great pilots, now you understand, they did their job.” (02:47)
• The hosts highlight Trump’s indifference and raise concerns about underplaying major security issues.

Federal Reserve and Interest Rates

• Timestamp 03:17 – 04:16
  • Trump is nonchalant about the Federal Reserve holding rates or potentially raising them in the future.
  • He contradicts earlier attacks on the Fed, now saying he is “guided by what [the current chairman] wants.”
  • Memorable Quote:
    • Trump: “It’s the Fed decision, they held rates today, it’s all right, whatever...I saw a statement.” (03:45)
• The brothers point out Trump’s inconsistency and general detachment from economic policy.

The Iran MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) and “Not Caring”

• Timestamp 04:16 – 05:16
  • Trump repeatedly claims not to care about the timeline for a formal deal with Iran, saying, “sixty days, we could extend it, it doesn’t really matter.”
  • Hosts suggest Trump’s main interest lies in the pageantry of Versailles.

Bizarre Press Conference Banter

• Timestamp 05:16 – 05:39
  • Trump addresses a journalist with: “You shot your load, pretty much, Steve,” demonstrating his penchant for crude, off-topic remarks.
  • Memorable Quote:
    • Trump: “The press conference seems to have gone well. You shot your load pretty much, Steve, right?” (05:16)
• The hosts mock the inappropriateness and oddity of his language.

Sanctions on Russian Oil – More Indifference

• Timestamp 07:05 – 07:45
  • Trump is ambiguous on Russian oil sanctions: “I may put them back on...I wanted to make sure oil stayed as low as possible...I may put it back on.”
  • Memorable Quote:
    • Trump: “Sanctions on Russia...I may put them back on...now that the oil price is way down...I may put it back on.” (07:26)
• Hosts criticize this as further evidence of Trump’s carelessness.

The Greenland Sideshow and Timelines

• Timestamp 07:45 – 08:06
  • Trump jokes about forgetting to discuss Greenland, showing his scattershot priorities.

Timing and Location Ambiguity of Iran Agreement

• Timestamp 08:06 – 08:40
  • Trump’s responses on the Iran deal’s signing and U.S. military presence in the Gulf are vague (“forty-eight hours...we haven't determined yet”), reinforcing the hosts’ depiction of his lack of planning.

“Maybe We Bomb Them” – Escalatory Rhetoric

• Timestamp 08:40 – 08:55
  • Regarding enforcement of the Iran agreement, Trump brazenly says: “Maybe we bomb them...it’ll probably happen.”
  • Memorable Quote:
    • Trump: “If they don’t come through, is it a threat that we bomb? ...It’ll probably happen.” (08:55)
• Hosts highlight the recklessness of such statements.

Criticism of the USMCA Trade Deal

• Timestamp 09:13 – 11:12
  • Trump diminishes his own trade achievement, stating the only good thing about the USMCA was that it let the U.S. exit NAFTA.
  • Memorable Quote:
    • Trump: “I'm not a big fan of it; I liked it because it got us out of NAFTA...I would prefer not having an agreement.” (09:50)
  • Hosts question why he touts a deal publicly and trashes it privately, describing this as erratic leadership.

Energy Crisis and Contradictions in Press Conference

• Timestamp 11:12 – 12:40
  • Trump admits he had to accept unpalatable terms with Iran due to low oil reserves, suggesting the U.S. was close to “running out” and facing a possible Great Depression.
  • Memorable Quote:
    • Trump: “We run out of reserves in about four weeks...there’ll be a time when you wouldn’t be able to get it and you want to see bedlam.” (11:44)
• Hosts stress the alarming admission and Trump's scapegoating of others, notably JD Vance.

Analysis of the Iran MOU’s Failures

• Timestamp 12:40 – 13:52
  • Political analyst points out the deal fails to address key U.S. objectives: halting nuclear enrichment, ending Iran’s ballistic missile program, countering state-sponsored terrorism, ensuring freedom of passage through Hormuz, and tying sanctions relief to verifiable results.
  • Memorable Quote:
    • Analyst: “The president today suggested that ballistic missiles should actually continue to be held by the Iranians because the Saudis, our allies, also hold ballistic missiles.” (12:52)
    • Analyst: “This MOU appears to be...a disaster that does not achieve any of the actual signal goals that were set by the administration at the beginning.” (12:52)

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3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You shot your load, pretty much, Steve, right?” (Trump, 05:16)
• “If they don’t come through, is it a threat that we bomb? ...It’ll probably happen.” (Trump, 08:55)
• “We run out of reserves in about four weeks...there’ll be a time when you wouldn’t be able to get it and you want to see bedlam.” (Trump, 11:44)
• “I would prefer not having an agreement.” (Trump, 09:50)
• “This deal does not achieve any of the actual signal goals.” (Political Analyst, 12:52)

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4. Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:39 – 03:17: Trump on Iranian ballistic missiles and nuclear policy
• 03:17 – 04:16: Trump’s indifference to Federal Reserve decisions
• 04:16 – 05:16: Trump minimizes the significance of Iran deal timelines
• 05:16 – 05:39: Bizarre press conference banter with journalist Steve
• 07:05 – 07:45: Trump’s ambiguity on Russian oil sanctions
• 08:40 – 08:55: Threats of bombing Iran upon noncompliance
• 09:13 – 11:12: Trump’s ambivalence towards the USMCA trade deal
• 11:44 – 12:40: Admission about U.S. oil reserve crisis
• 12:52 – 13:52: Analyst breaks down the Iran MOU’s shortcomings

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5. Conclusion

The episode paints a picture of a president disengaged from serious governance, careening from one topic to another with little concern for consistency or consequence. The Meiselas brothers’ commentary, bolstered by direct Trump quotes and pointed analysis, underlines the dangers of such cavalier leadership—especially in high-stakes international affairs. Their humor and camaraderie shine through even as the topics remain grave, making this a must-listen for those concerned about U.S. democracy and global stability.

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Transcript

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[Podcast Host]

donald trump is now walking around versailles the symbolism as the united states crumbles under donald trump's failed leadership donald trump wanted to take a trip to versailles and as donald trump arrived he held one of the most disastrous press conferences on the tarmac donald trump said first and foremost that he doesn't care if iran has ballistic missiles not a big deal and he claims that was never something that he focused on at all let's play this clip at

[Donald Trump]

the press conference you said you don't mind iran having ballistic missiles can you elaborate on that i want to make sure we understand your position no i want i'm saying that if other countries have them it's a little bit unfair for them not to have some a ballistic missile is not the same thing as what we're talking about when we talk nuclear but if saudi arabia and qatar and they all have some i would say in relative proportion i think it's okay that's what i mean then

[Podcast Host]

he says he doesn't care if iran has any nuclear dust said that was never a big deal to him at the outset as well play this clip

[Donald Trump]

mister president how important is it in the mou which just came out that iran commits not only to not pursue nuclear weapons but also resolve the nuclear dust machine it's great much less important because it's very hard to get at that very i don't think anybody could get it and we could get at it with great work and a lot of time but the b two bombers and those great pilots now you understand they did their job so much less important than not having a nuclear weapon

[Podcast Host]

what do you expect then donald trump got the news that the federal reserve are keeping interest rates the same but may be raising interest rates at their next meeting donald trump says yeah i don't i don't really care about that either really you were just attacking the former chairman of the federal reserve jerome powell for that precise thing when he did not do that and now you're saying you just don't care you don't care about anything here play this clip

[Donald Trump]

say it's the fed decision they held rates today it's all right whatever and it looks like they might even raise them later this year it's not clear do you have any it could happen i mean i it's hard to believe it just keeps a country down you know so it's so unusual but we have a very good guy over there now so i'm guided by what he wants was this his first time yeah i don't know i saw a statement

[Podcast Host]

it just came out then he's asked well what about when do we expect a final deal not this memorandum of understanding with iran when's a real like a deal when's that going to happen in sixty days donald trump as you may have predicted said yeah i don't care sixty days we could extend it it doesn't it doesn't really matter it seems that he doesn't care about anything other than his trip to versailles his tourist trip where he can be around gold here play this clip could take

[Donald Trump]

long so you could extend you could extend this stance i don't view it as hard though you don't think of it as a hard headline just as long as they're behaving i really don't care that much did you talk to

[Podcast Host]

leaders about greenland then donald trump talked about the press conference that he gave earlier and he talks to one of the reporters steve and he says steve you shot your load you shot your load pretty much i think the press conference went well did you like shooting your load he says let's play this

[Donald Trump]

clip the press conference seems to have gone well you shot your load pretty much steve right pretty much but it's going well seems like the agreement's very well undertow are you coming to versailles with us i hope i'm going to try and get you to do the tour because honestly it's unbelievable one thing

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[Podcast Host]

then when it comes to sanctions on russian oil donald trump says i don't really care maybe i'll put him back on i don't know it seems like he says he doesn't care about it maybe he doesn't care maybe he doesn't care about his job he is truly careless while the americans suffer in fact he seems to enjoy the american people suffering here play

[Donald Trump]

this clip sanctions on russia what are you going to do about that sanctions on russia like the oil waiver yeah i may put them back on you know i wanted to make sure that oil stayed as low as possible now that the oil price is way down when you see those numbers but it's way down i may put it back on thank you mister president thank you

[Podcast Host]

mister president but one of the things he's like man i forgot to talk about greenland how could i forget to talk about greenland and invading it here play this clip did you talk that

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[Donald Trump]

did you talk about greenland no we didn't discuss greenland not at all i should discuss

[Podcast Host]

then donald trump says that the iran agreement which i believe supposed to have already been signed he says it will be signed in forty eight hours and so the reporter says where in geneva i don't i don't care i don't i don't really know once again here play this clip have any

[Political Analyst]

clarity on when the deal will be

[Donald Trump]

signed when the memorandum over the next i'd say forty eight hours forty eight

[Political Analyst]

hours and the fifty band is i'd

[Donald Trump]

say forty eight hours we haven't we haven't determined yet it's in final form we haven't determined how long will you

leave the us military in the gulf

[Podcast Host]

so what happens though if the terms of this purported agreement aren't fulfilled donald trump says i may we bomb him i don't know you tell me i don't care maybe we bomb them again you'll play this clip if they don't

[Donald Trump]

if they don't come through is it a threat that we bomb you could call whatever you want but it'll probably happen thank you i will see you at versailles and you're going to go back and tell the new york times you're going to change your whole way of life

[Podcast Host]

then he attacks the united states mexico canada agreement which he entered into which was his deal it was his update to nafta but trump says that the usmca the only thing he liked about it is it lets you get out of nafta so you're saying that you did a deal during your first term where the only thing you liked about it is that you can get out of the prior deal nafta so why did you do the usmca which you said was your crowning achievement of your first term now you say that you only liked it because you can get out of nafta here play this clip to be honest with you

[Donald Trump]

i'm not a big fan of it i liked it because it got us out of nafta in other words after six years you had a clause that got us out of nafta that's the thing i like about himans we do better without an agreement do you want to just leave it enrolling i would rather leave it unsigned i'd rather have it terminated you'd rather have it terminated those two different things i just want to be clear i would rather not have the agreement but i may sign it right but i would rather we do better as a country if we don't have an agreement so are you thinking of yeah i'm thinking about maybe we won't be able to make a deal i would rather not have the usmca the primary reason i wanted it was because there was no way out of nafta which was the worst trade agreement ever made like ever and they had no termination and it was very hard to get usmca for that reason and i had a six year close who would have thought i would have been here in the six years they got it six years because they hoped i wouldn't be here my term was supposed to be over with so on top of everything else that comes through i would prefer not having an agreement but i'm open to doing it we'll see what happens so as of now it's just going to stick around for ten years we're not no it's not sticking around it'll be terminated in other words after a decade it expires in a decade it expires i prefer the i view it as possibly expiring immediately

[Podcast Host]

and when donald trump says that he really you know steve you blew your load or shot your load or whatever the hell he's saying whatever ridiculous thing he's saying during the press conference i mean the press conference that donald trump gave at the g seven was very telling where he said we were four weeks away from just completely running out of oil reserves at which point there would have been a great depression of a scale we've never seen and then that's why he basically had to give in all of the terms that he did here's what he said at that press conference just to remember remind you

[Donald Trump]

i'm going to get bad press i know that now if i did the opposite if i went out and continued to bomb them for another four just bomb the hell out of them i get bad press on that no there's nothing i can do but what this does is it allows the ships to go if we if we keep bombing those ships won't be going and you're talking about five hundred six hundred seven hundred million dollars a day it's a lot of money a lot of money that's why the world is okay it's liquid it's fine also we run out of reserves in about four weeks you know there are reserves all over the world and we would really run out and there'll be a time when you wouldn't be able to get it and you want to see bedlam so for all those so called geniuses that want to show me how smart they are ask them why didn't they blow up general soleimani ask that of the general and a couple of other people that i like very much but boy are they wrong go ahead oh how about

[Podcast Host]

you and now state regime media and all the right wing neocons are out there putting this blame all on jd vance and saying everything is jd vance's fault you could watch for yourself let's

[Political Analyst]

play it with that said this mou appears to be just from the text a disaster that does not achieve any of the actual signal goals that were set by the administration at the beginning there were effectively five goals that were set by the administration at the beginning one was ending the nuclear program not just nuclear weapons no nuclear enrichment zero enrichment that is not in the deal ballistic missiles ended that is not in the deal and the president today suggested that ballistic missiles should actually continue to be held by the iranians because the saudis our allies also hold ballistic missiles then you have the support of terrorism that is not part of the deal anything that looks like an attempt to end terrorism a permanent opening of the strait of hormuz toll free not only is that not in the deal the deal appears to have a provision allowing iran and oman to attempt to toll the straits after sixty days and then finally the idea that iran would receive some sort of sanctions relief after all of those things happen we are already seeing from day one relief in their ability to ship oil out of iran in my opinion the vice president of the united states the chief negotiator on this particular project has not well served

[Podcast Host]

the president well there you have it everybody let me know what you think hit subscribe let's get to seven million subscribers thanks for watching want to stay plugged in become a subscriber to our substack at midasplus com you'll get daily recaps from ron filipkowski ad free episodes of our podcast and more exclusive content only available at midasplus com