President Donald Trump launched Peter Doocy’s new Fox News show “The Sunday Briefing” on September 21, 2025, delivering a wide-ranging interview that touched on Democratic challengers, media controversies, and major policy initiatives. The White House interview, conducted on September 19, served as the inaugural episode for Doocy’s alternating Sunday morning program, providing Trump a friendly platform to address current controversies while revealing significant details about ongoing negotiations and future plans.
Research assistance from Claude AI.
AOC’s 2028 Presidential Prospects Dismissed
Trump dismissed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s emerging 2028 presidential prospects with characteristic bluntness, declaring “Her philosophy’s bad for the country. I don’t think that philosophy can come close to winning.”
His critique came as multiple reports confirmed AOC’s team is actively positioning her for either a presidential run or Senate challenge to Chuck Schumer in 2028, with the progressive congresswoman having raised $9.6 million in the first quarter of 2025 alone.
Trump expanded his criticism to encompass what he called “deranged” Democrats generally, claiming:
“They want crime; we don’t. They want open borders; we don’t… They want men playing in women’s sports. They want transgender for everybody.”
Surprising TikTok Deal Reveals Media Alliance
Perhaps the most surprising revelation involved Trump’s TikTok negotiations, where he confirmed that Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch would likely join the American acquisition consortium.
“A man named Lachlan is involved,” Trump explained, “Lachlan Murdoch… Rupert is probably gonna be in the group, I think they’re going to be in the group.”
This partnership announcement carries particular irony given Trump’s simultaneous $10 billion lawsuit against Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal over Jeffrey Epstein-related reporting.
Key Players in the TikTok Deal
The TikTok deal also includes:
– Oracle executive chairman Larry Ellison
– Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell
– The Murdoch media family
Trump described them as “really great people, very prominent people, and they’re also American patriots.” The arrangement represents a significant shift in the long-running saga over TikTok’s American operations, with Trump positioning the deal as both economically beneficial and patriotically motivated.
Media Landscape Tensions Intensify
The interview addressed ABC’s indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel following his comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, a move that came after FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened the network’s broadcast license.
Trump celebrated the decision and suggested expanding cancellations to other late-night hosts, specifically mentioning Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. This represents a broader pattern of Trump administration pressure on media outlets that has drawn comparisons to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb?n’s media consolidation tactics.
Harris Book Claims Refuted
The president also directly refuted claims in Kamala Harris’s new book about their post-election concession call. According to The New York Times review, Harris claimed Trump called her “a tough, smart customer,” but Trump denied this characterization:
“[I didn’t call her that] that I know of, but I was nice to her.”
He acknowledged meeting Harris previously and being cordial, but dismissed the specific praise she attributed to him.
Federal Crime Crackdown Shows Immediate Results
Trump’s interview occurred against the backdrop of his unprecedented federal takeover of Washington D.C.’s police department, which he declared a “crime emergency” response.
The president had deployed the National Guard and 500 federal law enforcement officers to the nation’s capital, with Attorney General Pam Bondi taking command of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Impressive Crime Statistics
Within the first month, authorities reported:
– 550-plus arrests
– 40% drop in robberies and auto break-ins
– Seizure of 91 illegal firearms
These results led Trump to declare D.C. a “CRIME FREE ZONE.”
This federal intervention represented Trump’s most dramatic domestic law enforcement action since taking office, effectively placing the nation’s capital under direct presidential control?a move that generated significant constitutional debate about federal versus local authority.
International Stage and Political Strategy
Looking ahead, Trump revealed plans for his UN General Assembly speech scheduled for September 23, 2025:
“I will be giving a speech and talking about the good and the bad. We had seven wars that we resolved. I resolved seven. I have one or two left.”
The address would mark his return to the international body since his previous presidency, with Trump expected to tout foreign policy achievements while addressing remaining global conflicts.
Unusual Midterm Convention Plans
In an unusual political move, Trump announced plans for a “midterm convention” to highlight achievements, stating Republicans would hold the event to showcase “great things we have done” since January.
This represents a departure from traditional party convention timing, which typically occurs during presidential election years rather than midterm cycles.
Personal Insights and Lighter Moments
The interview concluded with Doocy’s signature “half-dozen” personal questions segment, where Trump revealed his ultimate aspiration:
“To Make America Great Again, to make America so great like it’s never been before. That is my only thing. That’s what I live for.”
When asked about his bucket list, Trump eschewed personal goals for his political mission, emphasizing his desire to “turn this country around” after what he characterized as years of international humiliation.
TikTok Video Moment
The session featured a notably lighter moment when Trump helped Doocy record his first TikTok video, joking that he was “working very hard” to save both the app and Doocy’s new show. This playful interaction contrasted with the interview’s more serious policy discussions, demonstrating Trump’s continued media savvy in managing his public persona.
Looking Forward: What This Interview Reveals
The premiere interview established “The Sunday Briefing” as a significant platform for Trump administration messaging while revealing the president’s strategic thinking across multiple fronts?from dismissing Democratic challengers to engineering complex international deals.
Trump’s appearance provided both policy substance and political theater, using friendly media access to shape narratives around controversial decisions while maintaining his characteristic combative approach to critics.
The breadth of topics covered reflected the administration’s ambitious agenda and Trump’s confidence in his political position heading into the latter half of his term.