In his first television interview after being sworn in for his second term, President Donald Trump appeared on Fox News with Sean Hannity, where he discussed various topics ranging from Joe Biden’s pardons to potential changes to government agencies like FEMA.

The interview aired Wednesday and showcased Trump’s criticisms of Biden’s actions and his own plans for the future.

Trump’s comments on Biden’s pardons were at the forefront of the discussion.

The president expressed dismay over Biden’s decision to issue preemptive pardons to some of his family members and political enemies, including not pardoning himself.

“The precedent that he set on pardons is amazing. That’s a much bigger story but people don’t like talking about it. He pardoned everybody, but he didn’t pardon himself,” Trump said.

Trump also made a bold claim regarding the individuals pardoned by Biden.

He stated that those who received pardons were now compelled to testify and could not invoke the Fifth Amendment.

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“Remember this, those people that he pardoned are now mandated, because they got a pardon, to testify and they can’t take the Fifth,” he claimed.

Hannity attempted to shift the conversation toward the economy, but Trump was resolute in his focus on the pardons.

I don’t care,” Trump said, further criticizing Biden’s decision-making and advisors.

“This is more important because right now the economy is going to do great. I’m here, so the economy…” Trump added.

Trump then likened Biden’s handling of foreign policy to a quote from former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who had said Biden had “never made a correct decision on foreign policy.”

As the interview continued, Trump discussed potential changes to FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

He suggested that he might scrap FEMA, claiming it complicates disaster response efforts. “All it does is just complicate everything,” Trump said.

“FEMA has not done their job for the last four years. Unless you have certain types of leadership, it gets in the way.”

Trump praised Oklahoma’s disaster response efforts, referring to the state as “very competent.”

He also pointed out that Oklahoma had voted for him in the last election, highlighting the connection between local governance and effective crisis management.

When pressed on the topic of his attorney general, Trump suggested that he would be nominating former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, though her Senate confirmation is still pending.

Hannity also asked about Trump’s legal battles, where the president noted that he had faced four years of legal challenges but had “won” despite spending millions on legal fees.

“I went through four years of hell… I spent millions of dollars in legal fees and I won, but I did it the hard way,” Trump said.

Trump also revealed plans to release classified files related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

He mentioned that when he was president, he was advised by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to release the files, though Trump expressed respect for Pompeo’s position.

“I was actually asked by Mike Pompeo, secretary of State, not to, and I felt he knew something that maybe, you know, when he asked you not to, you sort of say ‘why?'” Trump recalled.

However, Trump promised to release the files immediately during his second term, stating, “We’re looking at it right now.”

Finally, Trump provided a glimpse of his upcoming trip to North Carolina, where he plans to assess the rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Helene, and to Los Angeles to survey damage caused by wildfires.

He emphasized that his administration would take an active role in addressing these crises, while continuing to criticize the handling of disaster relief under FEMA.

As his second term unfolds, President Trump’s positions on issues like pardons, government agencies, and classified documents continue to make headlines, signaling potential shifts in policy direction as he navigates his return to the White House.

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