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Donald Trump appeared in first television interview since his Jan 20 inauguration, and spoke in detail about TikTok security risks, illegal immigration into the US and Joe Biden’s pardons.
US President Donald Trump appears in first interview since inauguration (Reuters Image)
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday appeared in his first interview after taking the Oval Office for the second time and spoke on a range of issues, including his pardons for nearly 1,600 US Capitol rioters, TikTok ban, and Joe Biden.
Trump took office on January 20 after his swearing-in ceremony and signed a record number of executive orders, including pardons for the rioters who stormed into the Capitol building in an attempt to overturn the 2020 poll results which showed Trump defeated by Joe Biden.
The US President sat in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
Donald Trump on J6 Rioters And Pardons
Trump defended his pardon for almost 1,600 people convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. His pardons were criticised widely, including by the police unions.
“Most of the people were absolutely innocent, okay? Nobody’s ever been treated so badly. They were treated like the worst criminals in history. And you know what they were there for. They were protesting the vote because they knew the election was rigged.” Trump said.
Nearly 140 police officers sustained injuries in the Capitol riots.
Donald Trump On Illegal Immigration
Trump reiterated his claims that foreign countries are emptying their prisons to let criminals enter the US illegally.
“They came out of jail from other countries. They’ve emptied their jails. I would if I were president or prime minister or something of another country. I’d empty my jails right into America, into the United States. Why not? And many of them did,” the President said in the Fox News interview.
Donald Trump On TikTok Ban In US
Trump, who was a staunch critique of TikTok earlier and had termed it a “spying app” for China, credited part of his 2024 poll success to his plans to reach out to the young voters using the Chinese app.
When asked by the anchor why he allowed TikTok to continue to operate in the US, for which he signed an executive order soon after taking charge, Trump dismissed the concerns about the app’s risks.
“Telephones and computers are made in China and so are a lot of other things. Isn’t that a bigger threat?” he asked.
He noted that young people like TikTok, stating that his youth numbers were high, and “maybe that’s because I went on TikTok”.
Notably, Congress had banned the Chinese app in the US last year unless TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, sells it to the US. The ban was all set to come into effect starting Sunday (January 19). On its eve, TikTok suspended its services in the US briefly, only to be back online after Trump assured to sign an executive order directing the authorities to extend the period.
Trump has directed the Justice Department not to enforce the ban for 75 days as his new administration chalks out a plan about the way ahead.
The Supreme Court of the country had upheld the ban last week and therefore it is uncertain whether Trump’s direction will survive a court review.
‘Sad Biden Didn’t Give Himself A Pardon’: Trump
Trump questioned why former President Joe Biden did not pardon himself before leaving office while he issued pardons for others.
“You know, the funny thing — maybe the sad thing — is he didn’t give himself a pardon. And if you look at it, it all had to do with him,” Trump said in the Fox News interview.
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
