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The president was grilled by journalist Bill O’Reilly and sports pundit Stephen A Smith as he joined NewsNation town hall by phone
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Donald Trump said he believed he had not made any mistakes in his first 100 days back in office, as he joined a NewsNation town hall via phone on Wednesday night.
The president faced a grilling from author and journalist Bill O’Reilly and sports pundit Stephen A Smith, as well as moderator Chris Cuomo. However, responding to a question from an audience member about what he believed his biggest mistake from his first 100 days was, Trump was blunt.
“I’ll tell you, that’s the toughest question I can have, because I don’t really believe I’ve made any mistakes,” he said.
Earlier, the president attempted to deflect blame as Wall Street fell on news that the U.S. economy shrank for the first time in three years, in Q1 2025. Trump claimed it was because of the Biden “Overhang” and had nothing to do with the panic over his tariffs.
During the 2024 campaign, the now-president would take credit for a booming stock market under his predecessor, Joe Biden, saying that it was because of expectations he would win the election. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 have had their worst performance in the first 100 days of an administration since 1973.
Donald Trump said he would “love” to see ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith run for president, describing him as “a smart guy.”
Trump spoke up for Smith as the president faced a grilling from him at a NewsNation town hall on Wednesday. Trump said he “enjoyed watching” the TV personality and sports pundit, and would put him above other Democratic candidates.
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Stephen A. Smith received a round of applause from the NewsNation town hall studio audience after he challenged the president over the executive orders aimed at dismantling DEI initiative across federal agencies.
“How do you justify these measures, and what message do they send to the marginalized communities in this country?” Smith asked.
“We have a country that’s based solely on merit now, and that’s the way it is,” Trump replied.
“If somebody is out there doing a great job, and this includes getting into colleges if you’ve worked really hard… we don’t look at race, we don’t look at color, we don’t look at height or shortness or weight.”
Donald Trump hit back at suggestions that his international tariff deals were taking time to materialize, telling moderators at a televised town hall to mark his first 100 days back in office: “I’m in less of a hurry than you.”
The president, who joined the NewsNation event on Wednesday night via phone, appeared to row back on claims he had already made agreements with hundreds of countries, downgrading them to just a handful of “potential deals.”
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Donald Trump appeared to row back on claims he had already made agreements with hundreds of countries, downgrading them to just a handful of “potential deals.”
In a recent interview with Time, Trump boasted that he had already struck “200 deals” with countries over tariffs, saying they were “100 percent” sorted – though he refused to name any specific nations.
At a NewsNation town hall on Wednesday, author and journalist Bill O’Reilly asked Trump about reports that he had already made deals with South Korea, Japan, and India. He asked when the deals might be announced.
“Well, we have potential deals with that,” Trump replied. “But I’ll tell you this, I’m in less of a hurry than you are. We are sitting on the catbird seat. They want us. We don’t need them.”
Donald Trump said he would “love” to see Stephen A Smith run for president – something the popular sports pundit has previously hinted at.
“Stephen A, he’s a good guy. He’s a smart guy. I love watching him,” the president said.
“He’s got great entertainment skills, which is very important – people watch him. You know, a lot of these Democrats I watch I say they have no chance.
“I’ve been pretty good at picking people and picking candidates, and I will tell you I’d love to see him run.”
Responding to a question from the NewsNation town hall audience about what he believed his biggest mistake from his first 100 days was, Trump was blunt.
“I’ll tell you, that’s the toughest question I can have, because I don’t really believe I’ve made any mistakes,” he said.
In response to a question from Stephen A Smith, who has voiced interest in a potential presidential run, about his tariffs Trump insisted that he knew what he was doing.
“It’s time for the American people to be properly protected by somebody that knows what he’s doing, and I know what I’m doing perfectly,” he said.
“It’s a little complicated subject. I’ve got to explain it. I’ve got to have people that can explain it. But I can tell you that right now we have over 100 countries that are calling us, like morning, noon and night, dying to make a deal.
“We’re in a great position of strength. We’ll make great deals, and where we don’t make deals”
On the deals, he added: “I’m in less of a hurry than you are.”
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