Quick Hit:

In a Tuesday appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast, former President Donald Trump said he's "inclined" to release the Epstein files if he returns to the White House, stating he'd "have no problem with it." Trump also discussed various other topics, including his critiques of the Biden administration, his thoughts on the 2020 election, foreign policy, and the challenges of transitioning from business to politics.

Key Details:

• Trump committed to releasing the Epstein files, asserting, "It probably will be [released] by the way," and emphasized, "I'd certainly take a look at it," adding, "I'd have no problem with it."

• Discussing the current state of the country, Trump criticized the Biden administration, saying, "We had a man in there that should have never been in there. They kept them in a basement. They used COVID, they cheated."

• Trump also reflected on the challenges of transitioning from business to politics, noting, "It takes guts to run for president. I can tell you. It takes guts to run. It's also a very dangerous profession if you want to know the truth."

Diving Deeper:

During an appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump promised to release the list of individuals who visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in a potential second term. When asked by Fridman about the mysterious Epstein files, Trump responded, "It probably will be [released] by the way," indicating that the list’s public disclosure would be a priority under his administration. "I'd certainly take a look at it," he added, and when pressed further, he stated, "I'd have no problem with it."

Beyond the Epstein files, Trump used the podcast to elaborate on his broader political views, particularly his critiques of the Biden administration and the 2020 election. Reflecting on his relationship with media and technology, Trump pointed out the shifting landscape, noting, "The whole plane of platform is changing a lot. It’s changed a lot in the last two, three years." He emphasized the need to adapt to these changes, especially in the context of political communication, saying, "You have to find out what people are doing, what they’re watching, and you have to get on."

Trump also revisited the 2020 election, reaffirming his stance that it was marred by fraud. "I think the election was a fraud," he declared, before expressing his concern about the future if such issues are not addressed: "You have to be able to challenge it. Otherwise, it's going to get worse, not better."

The former president also shared insights into the challenges of public speaking and leadership, particularly in the context of politics versus business. "It takes guts to run for president. I can tell you. It takes guts to run. It's also a very dangerous profession if you want to know the truth," Trump said. He reflected on the difficulties some successful business people face when transitioning into politics, noting, "I have a lot of people that are in business that are successful and they'd like to go over to politics and then you realize they can't speak, they choke."

In addressing foreign policy, Trump was cautious not to reveal too much about his strategies, particularly regarding the conflict in Ukraine. However, he did state, "I think I can make a deal if I win as president-elect, I'll have a deal made guaranteed." He criticized the Biden administration’s handling of global conflicts, suggesting that a lack of strong leadership has exacerbated international tensions.