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Trump Appears on Michael Cohen's Radio Show, Discusses Reconciliation

General16 sourcesAug 21, 2026
ConsensusFactual rigor 51/100

Jim Acosta highlighted a moment from Michael Cohen's Thursday radio interview with Donald Trump, noting Trump's claim that Cohen had recanted everything you said.

Trump told Cohen, "They weaponized you. They weaponized a lot of people, and I respect the fact that you recanted everything you said. That's a big thing that you did." Cohen has voiced misgivings about his testimony and accused prosecutors of asking leading questions, but he has not recanted everything, stating to CNN, "What was said is said, and that's where I stand with it."

President Trump appeared on Michael Cohen's radio show on Thursday, marking a public reunion with his former fixer-turned-foe. Cohen, who served prison time for his role in Trump's affairs, once called Trump a "Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain" and testified against him in court and before Congress. The interview was conducted via phone on Cohen's 77 WABC radio program in New York City.

CNN legal analyst Elie Honig stated that Cohen's latest statements demolish the factual basis of the hush money prosecution and conviction of President Trump. Honig has previously criticized the hush money case, calling the process a mess and questioning how the law was twisted. Trump is appealing his 2024 conviction on 34 felony counts related to payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.

Cohen stated he felt coerced by federal authorities, agreeing with Trump that he was weaponized by the Justice Department under Joe Biden. Trump's staff reportedly did not expect him to agree to the interview with Cohen. During the interview, Cohen referred to Trump as sir and boss. Cohen recounted a 2016 CNN appearance where he defended Trump against negative poll numbers, leading to Trump calling him into his office and saying, "F them, you're stronger than them. We've got this." Cohen noted that CNN never apologized or retracted anything regarding their poll reporting.

Consensus

16 sources placed · 1 from headlines only

00 far left
00 left
22 centre left
1313 centre
00 centre right
00 right
11 far right