From immigration to AI, 5 takeaways from Trump's NBC interview
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President Trump at the White House on Monday. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
President Trump discussed AI, immigration, the Fed, and more as he sat down with NBC News' Tom Llamas on Wednesday.
The big picture: NBC released an extended version of his "NBC Nightly News" interview on Wednesday night, ahead of more excerpts airing during the network's Super Bowl LX pre-game show Sunday.
What they're saying
On immigration, Trump conceded that his administration "could use a little bit of a softer touch" in the wake of federal agents fatally shooting two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis last month.
- "But you still have to be tough," added Trump, whose border czar Tom Homan announced the immediate withdrawal of 700 federal immigration agents from Minnesota on Wednesday.
- Trump said his administration was "totally focused on criminals, really bad criminals," but noted he's "not happy" about the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
- Llamas noted that one of Trump's "biggest endorsers," podcaster Joe Rogan, compared ICE officers to the Gestapo. Trump said Rogan's "a great guy," and after gentle pushing back from Llamas he added: "We do a phenomenal job, but I don't think we're good at public relations."
On the Fed, Trump said there's "not much" doubt in his mind that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates.
- Trump said he thinks Kevin Warsh, his pick to be Fed chair, understands that he wants him to lower interest rates — a point of contention he's had with outgoing Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
- "I think he wants to anyway," Trump said. "I mean, if he came in and said, 'I want to raise them' ... he would not have gotten the job. No."
- When asked if the Fed chair answers to him or as an independent body, Trump replied: "In theory, it's an independent body. But I think ... I'm a smart guy. I know the economy better than almost everybody."
On the corporate fight for Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming assets, Trump said he hasn't been involved.
- "I've been called by both sides. It's the two sides, but I've decided I shouldn't be involved," Trump said. "The Justice Department will handle it."
Flashback: Trump said in December he believes CNN, one of several cable networks owned by WBD, should be sold as part of any deal.
On the midterms, Trump said he'd accept the results of November's congressional elections if they're "honest."
On AI, Trump said: "It'll be the greatest jobs producer, it'll be the greatest military producer, it'll be the greatest medical producer, there'll be tremendous good, and there'll be probably some bad too."
- Llamas noted AI is taking jobs and there's "widespread concern" that it'll "wipe out" more jobs, including in manufacturing.
- Trump noted the same was said about the rise of the internet and robots.
- "There are more people working today than at any time in the history of our country," he said.
Of note: An NBC fact-check found while this statement is correct, the labor market's growth rate has "slowed sharply since he took office, and 2025 was the worst year for job creation since 2020," adding: "Excluding recessions, 2025 was the worst year for job creation since 2003."
