Trump, Cohen Hold First Public Talk in 8 Years as 40-Minute Interview Airs
Updated
Updated · CNN · Aug 20
Trump, Cohen Hold First Public Talk in 8 Years as 40-Minute Interview Airs
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Aug 20
Summary
A taped Trump-Cohen phone interview aired Thursday on WABC, their first open conversation since their relationship collapsed after Cohen’s 2018 guilty plea and later testimony against Trump.
Trump told Cohen, “They weaponized you,” while Cohen said they had “forgave,” describing the relationship as “being resuscitated” after private contacts and meetings over the past year.
The 40-minute interview largely focused on the US war with Iran and Trump’s record, with only limited discussion in the aired portion of their long public feud.
Cohen said he has already submitted a pardon application to the Trump administration and plans to follow up Friday, adding he has not yet received an acknowledgment.
The rapprochement marks a sharp turn after Cohen served prison time in the hush-money case, then became a key witness in the New York trial that produced Trump’s 34-count conviction.