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Trump Speaks With Michael Cohen on 77 WABC

8/22/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump appeared on former fixer-turned-foe Michael Cohen’s 77 WABC radio show for a televised interview.
Trump said he respects Cohen for recanting his earlier statements, calling it a big thing.
Cohen, the star witness in Trump’s 2024 hush-money trial, helped secure the president’s 34-count conviction.
Cohen resubmitted a pardon request to the White House after a prior application was denied by the Biden administration.

History

Historical Context

On September 8, 1974 President Gerald Ford issued Proclamation 4311, granting former President Richard Nixon a full, unconditional pardon for any crimes tied to the Watergate scandal. The move echoed earlier controversial clemencies, such as George Washington’s 1795 amnesty for the Whiskey Rebellion and Andrew Johnson’s post-Civil War pardons, and caused Ford’s approval rating to fall from 71% to 50%.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump appeared on former fixer-turned-foe Michael Cohen’s 77 WABC radio show for a televised interview.
Trump said he respects Cohen for recanting his earlier statements, calling it a big thing.
Cohen, the star witness in Trump’s 2024 hush-money trial, helped secure the president’s 34-count conviction.
Cohen resubmitted a pardon request to the White House after a prior application was denied by the Biden administration.

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