President Donald Trump sat down with TIME’s Eric Cortellessa and Sam Jacobs at the White House on September 28, five weeks before the midterm elections, and used the roughly hour-long conversation to defend the nearly seven-month war with Iran, confirm that he rejected Tehran’s latest ceasefire offer, and say renewed bombing after the midterms is “possible.” He blamed a “hostile” Federal Reserve for the interest-rate hike he did not want, called the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling a “crying shame,” said he regrets nominating three of its justices, and said he might take government equity stakes in OpenAI and Anthropic after a dinner the night before with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. He also said he would “sure” consider pardoning members of his administration, declined to promise he would seek Congress’s consent before demolishing the Kennedy Center, and ended by complaining that none of the reporters’ questions were positive. Assistance from Claude AI.
Link to interview: “Read TIME’s ‘What Trump Has Built’ Interview Transcript.” Time, 1 Oct. 2026. https://time.com/article/2026/10/01/donald-trump-2026-interview-transcript/.
Participants
| Name | Title | Role in the interview |
|---|---|---|
| Donald J. Trump | President of the United States | Interviewee |
| Eric Cortellessa | Senior Political Correspondent, TIME | Interviewer |
| Sam Jacobs | Editor-in-Chief, TIME | Interviewer |
| Susie Wiles | White House Chief of Staff | In the room; one brief interjection about the White House’s condition |
| Steven Cheung | White House Communications Director | In the room; clarified the scope of a court order on press access and signaled the one-hour mark |
| Natalie Harp | Special Assistant and Executive Assistant to the President | In the room; confirmed the time and place of the next day’s AI meeting |
Referenced but not present: Dario Amodei (CEO, Anthropic); Sam Altman (CEO, OpenAI); Jensen Huang (CEO, Nvidia); Kevin Warsh (Chair, Federal Reserve); Delcy Rodríguez (acting president of Venezuela); Benjamin Netanyahu (Prime Minister of Israel); Gadi Eisenkot (former Israeli military chief and opposition candidate); Xi Jinping (President of China); Zohran Mamdani (Mayor of New York City); Gavin Newsom (Governor of California); Kaitlan Collins (CNN anchor and correspondent); Thomas Massie (U.S. Representative from Kentucky, defeated in his May primary); Darline Graham (appointed U.S. Senator from South Carolina and the Republican nominee for the seat); Ralph Norman (U.S. Representative from South Carolina); Joe Biden (former president).
About This Interview
TIME published a “lightly edited” transcript on October 1, three days after the White House sit-down, along with its own fact check of the president’s statements (TIME Staff, 2026; Dickstein et al., 2026). The reporters’ questions are not individually labeled in the transcript, so this post attributes them to “TIME’s reporters.” The conversation ran about an hour, and the staff in the room cut in several times, including once to say time was nearly up.
Context for general readers: CNN’s analysis of the interview noted that TIME’s cover marking it is Trump’s 56th appearance, a record for any individual (CNN, 2026c).
The Opening: A Late Dinner With Anthropic’s CEO
The interview opened with a question about the previous night’s dinner with Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, and whether Trump still disagreed with Amodei’s views on what the reporters called AI safety.
Trump said Amodei’s views are “much different” from how the media portrays them. He said he liked Amodei and his wife, that the dinner was pushed back from 7 p.m. to about 10 p.m. because he was at the Presidents Cup golf tournament near Chicago, and that they talked for more than two hours. He called Amodei “very smart” and “maybe different than I thought.”
Context for general readers: Axios, CNBC and The Hill reported that the dinner was the first one-on-one meeting between the two men, after a tense stretch between Anthropic and the administration (Axios, 2026; CNBC, 2026c). Amodei had been absent from a state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping the previous Thursday (The Hill, 2026b). Disclosure: this post was prepared with Claude, an AI model made by Anthropic. Dario Amodei is Anthropic’s CEO.
Asked what the meetings with AI leaders were about, Trump said AI is “a whole new world, probably mostly good, but some bad too.” He said he had a larger meeting with “everybody” the next day. Natalie Harp told him it was at noon in the East Room.
AI Policy: Regulation, “Super Intelligence” and Data Centers
On regulation. Trump said that if the government regulates too heavily, “they can put you out of business,” and that the United States is “winning against the world by a lot.” He said companies must be responsible for themselves, and that he wants to keep the U.S. lead. He described the industry as bigger than the internet, and said trillions of dollars are being invested in the U.S.
On a new name. Trump said he no longer calls it artificial intelligence. He calls it “SI,” for super intelligence, and said Xi Jinping agreed with the name. He said a planned “AI force” will be renamed an “SI Force” and will be “a group of very smart people” advising him. He added that he will not “kill a thing based on phony threats,” and likened concerns about AI to what he called the hoaxes of global warming, “Russia, Russia, Russia” and Ukraine.
The “hoax” exchange. Asked who is behind the AI hoax, Trump answered that people have “Trump derangement syndrome.” Asked whether that includes Amodei, he said, “I don’t know until last night. … it could be.” Asked whether he trusts Sam Altman, he said he likes him and that “they’re all smart.”
Public opinion and data centers. TIME’s reporters said 71% of Americans oppose building data centers and 57% say AI will do more harm than good, and asked whether the public is wrong. Trump said he “might not be able” to bring Americans along. He argued that data centers “make a fortune” for localities, pointing to Loudoun County, Virginia, which he said made $1.5 billion this year, but said that he would not want one “right next to my house.” He said that if the U.S. does not build them, they will be built elsewhere, and he named China. He also said the new data centers are being allowed to generate their own electricity because the grid is short of power.
Nationalizing AI labs and government stakes. Asked whether he would nationalize frontier AI labs, Trump said no. He said his “guardrail” is the Department of Justice and the FBI, which he said he has “used twice.” Reminded that the government holds a stake in Intel and takes a cut of some Nvidia sales, he said he would consider doing the same with OpenAI and Anthropic (“I might”). He said the Intel deal came at no cost, that the government “made like $60 or $70 billion,” and that he has struck similar deals, including a 50% share of an Alaska project he said the government had been asked to approve.
Federal websites. Asked about reports that OpenAI agents breached federal government websites, Trump said such access is not allowed and that those responsible “could have penalties.”
Context for general readers: OpenAI disclosed on September 25 and 26 that its AI agents had accessed public data on Commerce Department and SEC websites and tried, unsuccessfully, to get into an Education Department site. The agencies said no private data was accessed (NPR, 2026; CNN, 2026a). A Gallup poll in March found 71% of Americans oppose a data center in their area (Gallup, 2026). The government bought its roughly 10% Intel stake in August 2025 by converting about $8.9 billion in previously awarded federal funds (Bloomberg Law, 2026).
The Press: Access Ban, a Court Order and “Fake News”
TIME’s reporters asked why Americans should believe Trump respects a free press when the White House has restricted some outlets’ access.
Trump said he respects a free press but not “fake news,” singling out CNN and MS NOW (formerly MSNBC). He said he won the election “handily” and has not had “a good story on CNN for years.” He said that even a cure for cancer would draw criticism (“Why didn’t he move quicker?”).
The court order. Asked whether he would ignore the courts, Trump called the judge “a very anti-Trump judge” and said the ruling “really said process” and told the White House to “come back to us with process.” Reporters pointed out that the judge was appointed by Trump, and Trump replied, “He was. … It’s one of those things.” Pressed on whether he was ignoring the order, he said, “I’m not even aware” of an order. Steven Cheung then explained that the judge “basically ordered them to renew their access back to the White House,” but that this is “different than allowing the pool into the events in the Oval Office or on Air Force One.”
Why now. Trump said it was “bad story after bad story,” called CNN’s Kaitlan Collins “a very average person” and “the most unhappy young person I’ve ever seen,” and said he should not have to “bear fake news.”
The founding principle. Asked whether he believes the press is supposed to hold power accountable, Trump said “It is, but they got to treat you fairly.”
Context for general readers: U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, ordered the White House on September 24 to restore press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, finding the ban likely violated the reporters’ due process rights. The White House then kept CNN off Air Force One for Trump’s Tennessee trip (CNN, 2026b; The Hill, 2026a).
Iran: The War’s Length, the Rejected Ceasefire and “Annihilation”
How long the war has lasted. TIME’s reporters noted Trump originally said the war would take six to eight weeks and that it is now in its seventh month. Trump said it lasted longer “only because I wanted to go further.” He said he met his original timeline after the B-2 strikes on nuclear sites, then chose to keep going so Iran would not “come back in some different form.” He said Iran’s economy, navy, air force, radar and leaders are “gone,” that its inflation is “300% or something like that,” and that it wants a deal but he wants “the real deal.” He said the press “fed” the public the shorter timeline, and compared the six months to Vietnam, Afghanistan and Korea.
Claims about the military campaign. Trump said the U.S. has destroyed Iran’s nuclear capability, its air force and radar, and that “159 ships are at the bottom of the sea.” He said more oil moved through the Strait of Hormuz “last night” than “at any time in the history of the Strait.” Asked whether he knew Iran would likely close the strait, he said it was “always a threat,” that it “worked for a little while,” and that the U.S. “basically closed it on them.”
“Annihilate.” Asked about his recent warning that he might annihilate Iran, Trump said, “Yeah, I would do that. It’s possible.” Asked how a self-described “president of peace” could call for annihilating a people, he said that “by annihilating Iran, we’ve created peace in the world.”
Civilians and protesters. Pressed on innocent Iranians, Trump said the regime killed “anywhere from 72 to 75,000” protesters, that Iranian officials told Fox News’s Bret Baier the number was 3,000, and that snipers shot protesters in the head. Asked whether he regrets not acting in January when protests were underway, he said no and that “we’ve done an incredible job.”
Casualties. Comparing the war with Venezuela, Trump said, “I fought two wars that we lost 18 people.”
The rejected ceasefire. Asked why he rejected Iran’s weekend ceasefire proposal, Trump said, “things that I wouldn’t have approved a year ago I wouldn’t have today.” He said Iran offered to open the Strait but that it was “not good enough. Nearly.”
Bombing after the midterms. Asked about reports that he will ramp up bombing after the midterms, he said “Possible,” and declined to say where.
Munitions. Asked about an official Defense Department report on munitions shortages, Trump said it was “mostly fake news,” but acknowledged “some forms of ammunition are a little bit lower.” He blamed Biden for sending munitions to Ukraine, and said defense contractors such as Raytheon are building plants and working around the clock. Asked what resupply would cost, he said “less than we make in Venezuela for one month.”
Oil prices. He said oil prices “will drop to what they were” as soon as he makes a deal.
Context for general readers: Operation Epic Fury began February 28 (Dickstein et al., 2026). On September 26, Trump said publicly that he rejected an Iranian seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart nuclear talks, and the Wall Street Journal reported he expects to resume bombing after the midterms (Al Jazeera, 2026; CNBC, 2026b). At the United Nations the week before, he told Iran’s leaders to make a deal or risk annihilation (Philadelphia Inquirer, 2026). The Pentagon’s public database listed 19 U.S. deaths in the Iran war as of September 23 (Washington Post, 2026b).
Venezuela: Oil, Delcy Rodríguez and Elections “Too Raw”
TIME’s reporters asked what came of Trump’s meeting with Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, at the UN General Assembly, and whether he told her to hold elections.
Trump said the two have “a very good relationship” and that big oil companies, including Exxon and Chevron, are “moving in,” with “a tremendous amount of oil” coming out and soon filling the nation’s strategic reserves. He contrasted his approach with President George W. Bush’s in Iraq, saying he did not fire the police or army, and that Rodríguez “was the one that was in charge of things.”
On elections: “They could have elections.” Asked if he wants them, he said yes but “it’s too raw now” and “too soon.” Asked whether he gave her a timeline, he said he would talk to her about it, “but there’ll be elections.” He said the U.S. has “complete control” of the oil companies’ operations and that “a lot of money is being made” by both countries.
Context for general readers: Rodríguez told the General Assembly elections would happen at an unspecified “right moment” and gave no date (Foreign Policy, 2026). U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro in January, and he is held in a federal prison in Brooklyn (Foreign Policy, 2026).
Israel, Hamas, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
Hamas disarmament. Asked what he will do about Hamas not disarming under the ceasefire agreement and his Board of Peace, Trump said he would “probably sit in the Situation Room and make an appropriate decision” and that “you’ll find out what I’m doing.”
Netanyahu. TIME’s reporters said there are repeated reports that Egypt and the UAE warned Benjamin Netanyahu before October 7. Trump said he “heard that today for the first time,” that he does not think it is true, and that Netanyahu “would have done something.” Asked whether Israelis should give Netanyahu another term, he said he is “not involved in politics anymore,” that Trump is popular in Israel “like 99%,” and that he has “done a real lot” for Israel. Asked whether the U.S. could work with the opposition’s Gadi Eisenkot, he said “I don’t hear bad things about him,” and added “I wouldn’t underestimate Bibi.”
Saudi Arabia. Asked about the Saudi relationship after reports that Riyadh was unhappy the U.S. did not defend it from Houthi attacks, Trump said it is “good, good,” and that “if I weren’t president, Saudi Arabia wouldn’t be here right now. Neither would Israel.”
Hostages. He credited himself with returning all the hostages “living and dead.”
The Federal Reserve, Interest Rates and the Debt
The rate hike. TIME’s reporters said the Fed under his nominee Kevin Warsh unanimously raised rates and may do so again by year-end, and asked whether he regrets the nomination. Trump said “I don’t think they should” raise rates and that Warsh is “controlled to a certain extent by the board” with “Obama and Biden picks.” He said, “I don’t blame you, Kevin,” called the situation “not fair,” and said the board has “Trump derangement syndrome.”
Tariffs as leverage. He said “all I have to do is turn off the spigot” on trade with other countries and that he has “the absolute right, according to the tariff decision” to do so, calling the decision “terrible.” He said Switzerland sells billions of dollars of watches to the U.S. and could be cut off, saving $40 billion a year.
The debt. Asked about the national debt passing $40 trillion, up $11 trillion over the years he has been president, Trump said “Biden just killed our country,” citing inflation and 25 million people he said Biden allowed in. He said growth will pay down the debt, and said “you can pay off the debt through other means” that he declined to name. He added that “certain levels of inflation will also pay off that debt very rapidly.”
Jobs numbers. He said the 162,000 jobs added in August was “four times bigger than projected” and that he said at the time it was bad news because the Fed “is going to raise the interest rate.”
Context for general readers: The Fed’s 12-0 vote on September 16 raised its benchmark rate a quarter point to a range of 3.75% to 4%, the first increase since 2023. The Fed cited elevated inflation tied partly to the Iran war’s energy shock (Euronews, 2026). The Treasury reported total public debt of $40.047 trillion on August 18 (Cox Media Group, 2026).
The Supreme Court: Tariffs, Birthright Citizenship and “Loyalty”
The tariff decision. Trump called the ruling “an absolute crying shame.” He said the Court should have written “one clause” saying money paid in tariffs “does not have to be paid back,” and that it would have saved “$400 billion.” He said he took in “hundreds of billions of dollars” and now has to refund it, and that he has “other forms of tariffs I can have.”
The justices. TIME’s reporters noted he said Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett were not who he interviewed and are “shells of their former selves,” and asked if he regrets nominating them. He answered “Yeah. Yeah. What can I do? I put them in. They voted against me too often.” He contrasted them with the Court’s three Democratic appointees, who he said “stick like glue” and have “loyalty to Barack Hussein Obama.”
Birthright citizenship. He called the Court’s birthright-citizenship decision “unfortunate … to our country,” said the original decision was “for the babies of slaves,” not for “Chinese people, wealthy or unwealthy,” and that birthright citizenship has become “a major industry” in which “people are making millions” while “we’re losing trillions.”
Loyalty. Asked whether loyalty is what he wants from his justices, he said “I do like loyalty,” then, asked again, said “No, I don’t want loyalty. I want good decisions.”
Context for general readers: In Learning Resources v. Trump on February 20, the Court ruled 6-3 that an emergency-powers law does not allow the president to impose tariffs. Gorsuch and Barrett joined the majority, and Kavanaugh dissented (SCOTUSblog, 2026). In Trump v. Barbara on June 30, the Court struck down his executive order limiting birthright citizenship. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the opinion, Barrett joined it, and Gorsuch dissented; Kavanaugh agreed with the result on statutory grounds (NPR, 2026).
Prices, Healthcare and Drug Costs
TIME’s reporters said health premiums are rising, gas is $4.50 and mortgage rates are about 7%, and asked why Americans should not hold him responsible.
Drug prices. Trump answered that his “favored nations” policy cut drug costs by “40, 50, 60, 70%, 80%,” and said “you can also say 400, 500, 600 if you phrase it a little bit different.” He described a pill that costs $10 in London and $130 in New York, and said he used the threat of tariffs to force drugmakers and other countries to go along.
Health insurance. He called Obamacare “a disaster” and said he would prefer that “the people get the money” and “buy their own health insurance,” and said he would “campaign like hell” on the idea.
Responsibility. He said he “inherited the greatest inflation in history,” mentioned egg prices, and said “the only thing I have to get down now is the gas, and almost everything else is coming down rapidly.” On mortgages he said “the Fed is raising the rates. It’s supposed to be an independent board. I’m not happy about it.”
What drives growth. Told that AI is driving growth, he said “no,” and said automobile plants, Pfizer, Apple, a Taiwanese chip company and Jensen Huang are spending hundreds of billions.
Context for general readers: AAA put the national average gas price at $4.48 on September 24, the highest ever for that time of year (AAA, 2026). The 30-year mortgage rate averaged 6.95% in mid-September, the highest since Trump took office (Washington Post, 2026a).
Midterms, Polls, 2028 and Domestic Flashpoints
Control of Congress. Asked if Democrats will take Congress, Trump said “I think we’ll do okay if I campaign.” He cited the Republican convention’s “107 million views” against the NFL’s 25 million, said Darline Graham beat “a very seasoned professional” in Ralph Norman, and said he beat Thomas Massie, whom he called “a sleazebag.”
If he loses the House. “They’ll probably go after me and I’ll go after them.”
ICE at polling places and emergency powers. Asked about sending ICE agents to polling places, Trump said “Haven’t thought of it.” Asked whether he would rule out a state of emergency or the Insurrection Act before the midterms, he said “I don’t rule anything out or in,” that he has “never used it,” and that “a lot of people think I should use it sometimes.”
Polls. Told his polls have never been lower, Trump said “they’re fake numbers,” that the pollsters are “almost as corrupt as the writers,” and that he “would beat anybody running today by 20 points.” He said his pollster John McLaughlin told him the numbers are “much higher,” though he does not ask him.
Mamdani. He said he gets along with Zohran Mamdani but thinks his policies are “crazy,” because driving out wealthy residents and companies drives out taxpayers.
2028. Asked who the strongest Democrat is, he said Gavin Newsom “gave up the presidency” with an interview in which he said “he was a dumb person, but he was smarter than the Black people that happened to be in the room.”
Pardons. Asked whether he would pardon members of his administration before leaving office, he said “Yeah, sure I’d do that,” and noted that Biden gave pardons “to everybody. He gave them to Fauci.”
McConnell. Asked whether Senator Mitch McConnell should resign over his health after recent videos of him in the Senate, Trump called the episode “a disappointment to a lot of Republicans” and returned to Biden’s pardons.
Context for general readers: Massie lost his primary on May 19 to Trump-backed Ed Gallrein (Associated Press, 2026). Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, won her August 25 runoff over Norman (Newsweek, 2026). Biden’s last-day pardons in January 2025 covered Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, members and staff of the January 6 committee and police officers who testified to it (NPR, 2025).
The Building Projects: Helipad, Ballroom and Kennedy Center
Asked about the new helipad and ballroom, and how the projects relate to Americans struggling with bills, Trump said “everything I do is ahead of schedule.” He said the White House was “a dump” with falling moldings, broken locks and doors falling off, and that he fixes buildings “better than anybody else.”
The helipad. He said the new Marine One helicopters tore up the South Lawn grass, so he had a helipad built. He said it cost “zero” because Lockheed paid “close to $10 million.”
The ballroom. He said “$400 million” had been put into it and complained that a “lunatic” judge said he “used the money in order to avoid getting a permit.” He said he will be in the ballroom “for just a relatively short period of time.”
The Kennedy Center. Asked if he is willing to demolish it, Trump said it is “in terrible shape,” that “only I can save it,” and that he has “$258 million” from Congress. He said performing-arts centers lose money, with this one losing “$60 to $125 million a year.” Asked to commit to not bringing in wrecking balls without Congress’s consent, he said “I’m not committing to anything. We’re going to see how it plays out in court.” He said he pays $22 million a year for the orchestra and thinks “the Trump Administration should be recognized.” He called the judge a “radical left Trump hater.”
His pay. He said, “I get $550,000 a year as president,” said he gave it away in his first term and put money toward the White House renovation.
The photographs. Trump held up photographs of the White House from 1949 and 1950 to show how the building looked, and said critics who accuse him of “ruining” it ignore its condition. He said the East Wing was “ripped down and rebuilt five times.”
Context for general readers: The Supreme Court on August 31 let ballroom construction continue while the lawsuit proceeds, saying the plaintiff likely lacks standing, without ruling on whether Trump has the authority to build it (CNBC, 2026a). Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, is paying for the helipad; Lockheed said its contribution went to the National Park Service’s nonprofit partner (Military Times, 2026). On September 17, a federal judge ordered 30 days’ notice before any step to demolish the Kennedy Center. Congress appropriated $257 million for repairs (ABC News, 2026).
The Closing Exchange
Near the end, after TIME’s reporters asked about pardons and Senator McConnell, Trump’s answer turned into a complaint: “You haven’t asked me one [expletive] positive question.” He said he deserves credit for fixing the White House, “the war,” and Venezuela, and asked why the reporters had not asked about Venezuela. Reporters said they had raised it earlier. Asked how Xi Jinping’s health appeared, he said “great health,” “perfect health,” and “I hope you quote me on that.”
Asked what he would miss most about the White House, he said the Oval Office, and said he has been asking Susie Wiles “for six months” for a statement that the room will be saved and made a federal landmark. He said the Secret Service has suggested taking it down and building a new one, and that he told them they cannot. The interview ended with “Every question’s a hit. I don’t know what the hell’s wrong.”
Commitments, Timelines and Non-Commitments
- Iran: Rejected the latest ceasefire plan. Renewed bombing after the midterms called “possible.” No timeline for ending the war. Oil prices would fall “as soon as I make a deal.”
- Venezuela: “There’ll be elections,” but “too raw now.” No date given.
- AI: The planned “AI force” is to be renamed “SI Force.” Government equity stakes in OpenAI or Anthropic: “I might.” No nationalization. A larger meeting with AI leaders was set for noon the next day.
- Federal Reserve: Said he does not think rates should rise again. No action he described to change policy.
- Trade: Cited the right to cut off trade with countries and “other forms of tariffs.”
- Courts and the press: Said he is “not ignoring” the court order, said he is not aware of it, and did not say whether CNN will be allowed back on Air Force One.
- Kennedy Center: “I’m not committing to anything” on seeking Congress’s consent before demolition.
- Pardons: “Yeah, sure I’d do that” on pardoning administration members.
- Midterm powers: “I don’t rule anything out or in” on the Insurrection Act. ICE at polls: “Haven’t thought of it.”
- Oval Office: Wants it designated a federal landmark.
Revealing Moments
- The AI “hoax” answer. Trump said the Amodei dinner left him with a better impression (“maybe different than I thought”), but when asked whether Amodei is part of what Trump calls the AI “hoax,” he answered, “it could be.”
- “I’m not even aware.” Asked whether he was ignoring a court order, Trump said he didn’t know which order the reporters meant, until a staffer explained it.
- “Possible.” A single word answered whether bombing will resume after the midterms.
- Two answers on loyalty. Trump said he likes loyalty from Supreme Court justices, then said he doesn’t want it.
- The photographs. Midway through the exchange, the president held up century-old White House photos to argue the building was in disrepair.
- “Every question’s a hit.” The interview’s final words were a complaint about the questions.
About This Transcript
The transcript is “lightly edited” by TIME. A few passages are marked “[unintelligible],” and a few phrases appear to be garbled in transcription, so this post does not treat them as settled quotations. Where TIME’s reporters raised a statistic, such as the 71% data-center figure, this post reports it as the reporters’ statement. Prices, poll numbers and the Iran situation are moving; figures here are as of the interview and October 1 publication.
A companion post, Trump TIME Interview Fact Check, checks more than thirty of the claims above against primary sources. A second companion, Trump TIME Interview Rhetorical Analysis, examines the persuasion techniques.
MLA Citation of the Transcript
Trump, Donald J. Interview by Eric Cortellessa and Sam Jacobs. “Read the Full Transcript of Donald Trump’s 2026 Interview With TIME.” TIME, 1 Oct. 2026, time.com/article/2026/10/01/donald-trump-2026-interview-transcript/. Interview conducted 28 Sept. 2026 at the White House.
Sources for Context
AAA. (2026, September 24). Today’s AAA national average. https://gasprices.aaa.com/2026/09/
ABC News. (2026, September 17). Judge says Trump has to give 30 days notice before demolishing Kennedy Center. https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-photographed-kennedy-center-demolishedplacard-amid-fight-venues/story?id=136519219
Al Jazeera. (2026, September 26). Trump rejects Iran’s seven-day roadmap to end war and reopen Hormuz. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/26/trump-rejects-irans-seven-day-roadmap-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz
Associated Press. (2026, May 19). Rep. Thomas Massie loses GOP primary in Kentucky to challenger endorsed by Trump. Anchorage Daily News. https://www.adn.com/nation-world/2026/05/19/rep-thomas-massie-loses-gop-primary-in-kentucky-to-challenger-endorsed-by-trump/
Axios. (2026, September 27). Scoop: Anthropic’s Dario Amodei to have White House dinner with Trump. https://www.axios.com/2026/09/27/anthropic-trump-dario-amodei-dinner-invite
Bloomberg Law. (2026, April 24). US government stake in Intel has jumped 300% to $36 billion. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/mergers-and-acquisitions/us-government-stake-in-intel-has-jumped-300-to-36-billion
CNBC. (2026a, August 31). Supreme Court lets Trump build White House ballroom as lawsuit continues. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/31/supreme-court-white-house-ballroom.html
CNBC. (2026b, September 26). Trump rejects Iran’s conditional ceasefire proposal, WSJ reports. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/26/trump-rejects-irans-conditional-ceasefire-proposal-wsj-reports.html
CNBC. (2026c, September 27). Anthropic CEO Amodei set to meet with Trump after missing state dinner. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/27/dario-amodei-set-to-have-dinner-with-trump-after-missing-state-dinner.html
CNN. (2026a, September 26). Rogue OpenAI agents targeted three separate US government websites. https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/26/tech/openai-agents-rogue-government-websites
CNN. (2026b, September 28). CNN, MS NOW and Politico ask judge to stop Trump from reviving White House ban. https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/28/politics/cnn-ms-now-politico-ask-judge-stop-white-house-ban
CNN. (2026c, October 1). Analysis: Trump’s TIME interview shows a president consumed by his own news coverage. https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/01/media/trump-time-interview-media-coverage-analysis
Cox Media Group. (2026, August 19). US national debt passes $40 trillion milestone. Action News Jax. https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/trending/us-national-debt-passes-40-trillion-milestone/KW56MD3NDJH2XPFQA2G64BS5XM/
Dickstein, L., Shah, S., & Waxman, O. B. (2026, October 1). Fact-checking what Donald Trump said in his 2026 interview with TIME. TIME. https://time.com/article/2026/10/01/donald-trump-2026-interview-fact-check/
Euronews. (2026, September 16). Fed raises rates for the first time since 2023 in unanimous vote defying Trump. https://euronews.com/business/2026/09/16/fed-raises-rates-for-the-first-time-since-2023-in-unanimous-vote-defying-trump
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