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Political Commentator
Donald Trump just wrapped up a disastrous press conference in the Oval Office with the Prime Minister of Italy. Of course, Donald Trump mostly made it about himself, his grievances, his retribution. Donald Trump spent the time attacking the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, who Donald Trump himself appointed in 2017. Play this clip on Jerome Powell.
Donald Trump
You said that the termination of Jerome Powell cannot come fast enough. He says he won't leave it even if you ask him to.
Do you believe if I ask him to, he'll be out of there. But do you believe you have the.
Power to remove him? And are you trying to do that?
I don't think he's doing the job. He's too late, always too late, slow. And I'm not happy with him. I let him know it and if I want him out, he'll be out of there real fast, believe me.
Political Commentator
Donald Trump continued to attack Chairman Powell because Chairman Powell accurately describe that our economy is having big problems now created by the Trump regime. Donald Trump in this Oval Office press conference says he doesn't know what Congo even is the country, he doesn't know what it is, but he says they're doing bad things. Play this clip all over the world.
Donald Trump
The Congo, in Africa, many, many people come from the Congo. I don't know what that is, but they came from the Congo and all over the world they came in open.
Political Commentator
Donald Trump next address addresses the school shooting that took place at the FSU Student Union, or I should say he mentions that. He doesn't really address it. His statement is, quote, things like this take place is his response to the horrific tragedy that took place today. Play this clip, everybody.
Donald Trump
I've been brief on these. Florida State University, Tallahassee, active shooting. I guess it's an active shooter. Fully brief as to where we are right now. It's a shame. Horrible thing. Horrible that things like this take place. And we'll have more to say about it later.
Political Commentator
Donald Trump then said that Jerome Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, is going to face a lot of political pressure. He goes, you know, these are political guys. And so you're going to face a lot of pressure. Play this clip has come down quite a bit.
Donald Trump
And, and I would say the Fed really owes it to the American people to get interest rates down. That's the only thing he's good for. And he would have an effect on that if he lowered him. And I think at some point he will. He's going to have a lot of political pressure. You know, they are political also, and I think there's a lot of political pressure for him to lower interest rates.
Political Commentator
Please, once again, let me repeat. Donald Trump appointed Chairman Powell in 2017. Okay, so now Donald Trump is attacking his own person because his own person is saying, accurately that the economy is struggling right now because of Trump's failed trade war with the world. Donald Trump then says that Jimmy Carter, late president, is actually a happy man. He died happy because he was better than Biden. This is again the deranged, demented mind of a freaking lunatic. Here. Play this clip.
Donald Trump
We're useless. They were incompetent. Worst administration in the history of our country. Worse than Jimmy Carter. Jimmy Carter died a happy man. You know why? Because he wasn't the worst president. Joe Biden was. So I think you're going to see some fantastic numbers where this all happens. It's happening now. I mean, everybody wants to make a deal.
Political Commentator
A reporter then asks Donald Trump to clarify his views about Chairman Powell and about what he intends to do to Chairman Powell if Chairman Powell does not reduce interest rates. Here, play this clip.
Reporter
Clarify on rate cuts. Do you intend to see Powell's firing if he doesn't change his chance on rate cuts or is that on the table?
Donald Trump
Well, I think he should do the rate cuts because I think if Europe has done it puts us at a disadvantage to Europe. I mean, he plays right into their hands. So I think he should do the rate cuts. We don't have really inflation now. I just said the major things are going down. Oil is great. Oil is way ahead of schedule. And that's because of our policies. But oil is down into the $60, $65 range now per barrel. And I told you, in certain states, we have less than $2 for gasoline. And food is down. Groceries, as we call it, are down. Other than interest rates, everything's down. Interest rates are pretty flat. And it's not that they're up, but we should be better than flat. We should. If he would lower the interest rate, I think would have a good impact on that, too. But the costs are down. We have very little inflation. I would say we have essentially no inflation. Hard to have inflation when oil goes down.
Political Commentator
And it's just interesting that Donald Trump continues to cite Europe's central bank as a reason the United States should be doing interest rate cuts. You know, Donald, we were doing interest rate cuts in the United States, you know, when under former President Biden. You know why? Because inflation was hitting its Fed target rate of 2% based on things like the Inflation Reduction Act. Former President Biden had to clean up the mess left by you. The arsonist. The arsonist then claimed that the person putting out the fire was actually the arsonist. You came back into power and now once again, voila, you are the arsonist again, screwing up the economy, causing inflation to rise such that interest rates can't be taken down. Now, one of the expressions that I've heard, and Carl Quintanilla has said it before, what Trump wants to do is try to burn down the house in order to cook a steak. So you're trying to destroy the entire economy, blow it all up to what? To, to lower the interest rates when the economy is going to be literally the worst since the Great Depression. Like that's the game plan. Donald Trump then says that there are lots of countries calling him up, so many countries calling them up to make deals that he maybe doesn't even want to do deals with them.
Donald Trump
Play this clip very well with negotiations, I think with all countries. Do you have a time, Scott, could tell you a little bit, but we are doing very well. We have a lot of countries that want to make a deal. Frankly, they want to make deals more than I do. Go ahead, Scott.
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Political Commentator
And we heard this earlier today in the White House when Donald Trump was asked about Xi Jinping now meeting with allies of the United States and China cutting deals as Donald Trump has turned America into basically the manifestation of a Trump dollar sign meme coin or a dollar sign Melania meme coin. Play this clip.
Reporter
You have said in the past that you aren't worried about allies growing closer to China as a result of the tariffs. And this week we saw Chinese President Xi Jinping visit with three of our allies. Should you be worried?
Donald Trump
No, no, no. Nobody, nobody can compete with us. Nobody.
Political Commentator
Going back to the disastrous Oval Office press conference, Donald Trump is asked again about, you know, these, you know what, what about these trade deals Americans are suffering. To which Donald Trump says, Americans aren't suffering. We're doing great. He goes, everything's down. Prices are down. Things are great. Americans are thriving. They're great again right now. He goes, the only thing that's bad is interest rates. Play this clip.
Donald Trump
You did say that you are confident these deals will be done, but you also said that you're in no rush. Americans are seeing prices rise. They're seeing it on their bills. How long can they expect that pain to last?
So they've already seen it get much better. Because if you were truthful, which you're not, you know, I know you very well, you have gasoline that hit A$98 yesterday in a couple of states. You have gasolines way down. The price of oil has dropped substantially.
Political Commentator
I'm going to bring the data at the end of this video. Don't worry where. I'm going to fact check everything that he's saying because it's all 100% false. But what else is new? How do you know Donald Trump and Mag is lying? They open up their mouth here. Donald Trump then talks about the only thing that's going up are interest rates. Play this clip really fast.
Donald Trump
So prices haven't gone up. The only thing that's gone up actually is interesting interest rates because we have a Federal Reserve chairman that is playing politics, somebody that I've never been very fond of, actually, but he's playing politics. Interest rates should be down now. They should be coming down. In Europe, as you know, they reduced him, I guess seven times. It looks like they're going to reduce them again and again and again. But our guy wants to play tooth. But interest rates are pretty much even. Maybe they went up just a slight bit, but that's the only thing. But that's because of the Federal Reserve, because they're not very smart people.
Political Commentator
Trump is then asked, what's going to happen, Donald, if a federal judge holds you in contempt and Trump like throws his DOJ under the bus. He's like, oh, it's not going to be me. Ask the lawyers. Ask the DOJ lawyers. You hear that? DOJ lawyers here, play this clip.
Reporter
Will you take steps to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States and put him in front of a judge?
Donald Trump
Well, I'm not involved in it. I'm going to respond that by saying you'll have to speak to the lawyers. The doj, I've heard many things about him and we'll have to find out what the truth is.
Political Commentator
Again, just take a look at some charts. I like charts. I like data. I'm a data guy. I'm a chart guy. Federal spending up right now. More federal spending now than under former President Biden. For everything that Doge said it was going to do and didn't do it. The US dollars having the worst start to a year since 1995. Consumer confidence right now is at its lowest point since 1981, its second lowest point since 1951 or 52, when University of Michigan really started doing its consumer confidence survey. We've now heard from the Atlanta Fed which believes NEG 2.2% GDP contraction in quarter one. We've heard from the New York and Philly Feds which show manufacturing declining at a rapid pace. American Express put out guidance, assuming in their guidance that there will be an average unemployment of around 5.7%. But they think that their business will be largely immune from any great recession because they have wealthy people as clientele. This just in. Mortgage rates see the largest one week hike in nearly a year, reaching their highest level in two months. I've seen some mortgage rates as high as 7, 7 1/2% some slightly lower, but housing is not more affordable. Prices are going up. The price of eggs, remember, the price of eggs are higher. Donald Trump is a complete liar and a complete failure in everything that he does. But he goes there in the Oval Office and lies like living people breathe. That's kind of how Donald Trump exists. As I said in my substack on midas plus.com today, go check it out. Midas plus.com and spell it right. M E plus.com I said Donald Trump's an expert in one thing fraud. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 5 million subscribers. Thanks for watching.
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Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast
Episode Title: Trump Holds Disaster Presser in Oval as Decline Continues
Release Date: April 17, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Episode Focus: Analyzing former President Donald Trump's recent press conference in the Oval Office, highlighting his statements on the economy, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, international relations, and national tragedies.
In this episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, the Meiselas brothers delve into the chaotic press conference recently held by Donald Trump in the Oval Office. The discussion centers around Trump's controversial remarks on the economy, his attacks on Jerome Powell, and his handling of national and international issues. The hosts provide a critical analysis of Trump's statements, backed by factual data and their unique blend of humor and insightful commentary.
The episode begins with the Meiselas brothers setting the stage for Trump's latest press conference, describing it as "disastrous" and highlighting the president's tendency to emphasize personal grievances over substantive policy discussions.
Notable Quotes:
A significant portion of the press conference was dedicated to Trump's vehement criticism of Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve Chairman he appointed in 2017. Trump accused Powell of ineffectiveness and hinted at his willingness to remove him if he doesn't lower interest rates.
Notable Quotes:
Host Commentary: The hosts criticize Trump's attacks on Powell, emphasizing that Powell has accurately described economic challenges resulting from Trump's trade policies. They highlight the incongruity of Trump attacking an appointment he made himself and question his understanding of monetary policy.
Trump briefly touched upon international issues, notably mentioning the Congo, though his comments were vague and lacked substantive information.
Notable Quotes:
Host Commentary: The brothers mock Trump's lack of knowledge about international affairs, particularly his vague references to the Congo, underscoring his tendency to make unfounded statements without factual backing.
Trump addressed the recent school shooting at Florida State University with what the hosts perceive as a minimal and insincere response.
Notable Quotes:
Host Commentary: The hosts criticize Trump's brief and dispassionate remarks, suggesting a lack of genuine empathy and urgency in addressing the tragedy.
Trump made several claims about the state of the economy, asserting that prices and key indicators are improving under his influence. The hosts counter these claims with data, highlighting economic indicators that suggest otherwise.
Notable Quotes:
Host Commentary: The brothers present a stark contrast between Trump's optimistic economic assertions and the actual economic data, including declining GDP, rising unemployment projections, and decreasing consumer confidence.
Trump discussed trade deals and relations with China, dismissing concerns about allies growing closer to China due to American tariffs.
Notable Quotes:
Host Commentary: The hosts critique Trump's simplistic and dismissive views on international trade relations, emphasizing the complexity of global economics and the potential long-term impacts of his trade policies.
When questioned about potential legal repercussions, specifically regarding contempt charges, Trump deflects responsibility onto the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Notable Quotes:
Host Commentary: The brothers highlight Trump's tendency to evade direct answers and shift blame, portraying a lack of accountability in facing legal challenges.
Throughout the episode, the hosts employ data and charts to debunk Trump's claims, providing listeners with factual insights into the current economic and political climate.
Notable Points:
Host Commentary: The brothers emphasize the importance of data-driven analysis, urging listeners to rely on factual information over Trump's unfounded statements.
The episode concludes with the hosts reinforcing their stance on the detrimental effects of Trump's policies, labeling him as deceitful and ineffective. They encourage listeners to seek the truth and remain vigilant against misinformation.
Notable Quotes:
Host Guidance: Encouraging the audience to stay informed through reliable sources and to support democratic values amidst political turmoil.
For further analysis and detailed data, the hosts recommend visiting their Substack at midasplus.com, where they provide comprehensive charts and fact-checks supporting their critiques of Trump's statements.
In this episode, The MeidasTouch Podcast delivers a thorough and critical examination of Donald Trump's recent Oval Office press conference. Through a combination of factual data, sharp analysis, and the brothers' signature humor, the hosts effectively challenge Trump's narratives, offering listeners an informed perspective on current political and economic issues.
For more episodes and daily updates, subscribe to The MeidasTouch Podcast on your preferred platform and join the MeidasMighty community!