TV interview Trump wants to pardon Capitol stormers and names them "hostages"

In the first TV interview since his re-election, US President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his radical political plans, threatened his allies with leaving NATO and Ukraine with a cut in US aid. In the NBC interview, Trump confirmed his intention to implement a mass deportation of migrants and a rigorous customs policy against trading partners. Meanwhile, he wants to pardon imprisoned supporters who were involved in the storming of the Capitol.

After his comeback in the presidential election on November 5th, Trump will begin his second term in office on January 20th. In the NBC interview, the right-wing populist said he would “absolutely” consider the United States leaving the Western military alliance if NATO allies did not treat his country “fairly.” “They have to pay their bills,” demanded the president-elect.

Already during his first term in office (2017 – 2021), US relations with NATO were strained because of what Trump saw as the allies’ insufficient contributions. In the spring, Trump threatened that he would not come to the aid of NATO partners who were in default if they were attacked. In fact, he would then even encourage the Russians to do “whatever they want” with them.

The Republican, known for his sympathies for Russian President Vladimir Putin, also raised the prospect of a cut in US aid to Ukraine in the interview. Asked whether his administration would cut back on support for Ukraine, Trump replied: “Possibly. Yes, probably, certainly.”

The USA is Ukraine’s most important supporter in the defensive war against Russia. The interview with NBC was conducted on Friday, a day before Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris on Saturday.

After the conversation in Paris, Trump called for an “immediate ceasefire” on his Truth Social online service and appealed to Kiev and Moscow to begin negotiations. According to critics, Trump’s proposed deal with Russia could lead to Ukraine being forced to give up a number of the territories occupied by Russia.

On the issue of immigration, Trump reiterated his intention to implement a rigorous deportation policy. “You have to do it,” he said, even if such a mass deportation was “a hard thing.” Trump announced during the election campaign that if re-elected he would order the largest mass deportation of undocumented migrants in US history. The military should be deployed and internment camps should be set up.

In the interview, he also announced that he wanted to abolish the birthright to citizenship in the USA, which is enshrined in the US Constitution. He will push this forward when he takes office on January 20th, “if we can, through executive action,” said Trump. According to the US Constitution, anyone born on US soil is granted US citizenship. Trump called this provision “ridiculous.”

The rigorous customs policy he announced, including against the important trading partners Canada, Mexico and China, will also be implemented, said Trump. Tariffs, “used correctly,” are “a very powerful tool.” He will also use this instrument “to achieve other things outside of the economy,” with Trump aiming to curb drug imports and illegal migration. When asked whether US citizens would face higher prices as a result of these tariffs, Trump replied: “I can’t guarantee anything.”

Trump said he would take care of pardoning imprisoned supporters “very quickly” after taking office. His supporters, incited by false election fraud allegations, stormed the Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021. Many of those involved, including leaders of right-wing extremist militias, were sentenced to long prison terms. Trump calls the detainees “hostages.”

The storming of the Capitol went down in history as one of the darkest chapters of US democracy. Trump himself was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with the events. In view of his election victory, the US judiciary discontinued the proceedings because an incumbent president was not being investigated.