President Donald Trump participated in a town hall event focused on his first 100 days back in the Oval Office, joining hosts Bill O’Reilly and Chris Cuomo along with other guests. The discussion touched on various aspects of the administration's early actions and priorities.
Mr. Trump joined the conversation remotely, taking questions from the hosts and audience members. Bill O’Reilly introduced the president, noting the event was intended to be informational rather than confrontational and crediting Mr. Trump with attempting significant actions in office.
O’Reilly pressed the president on recent polls showing some public disapproval of his performance. Mr. Trump dismissed these as “fake polls,” asserting broad appeal among his voters.
The conversation turned to the economy, with discussion including a first-quarter economic report showing a slight drop in GDP. Mr. Trump defended his economic approach, including controversial tariffs, arguing they are necessary to equalize global trade and encourage domestic investment.
Regarding tariffs, Bill O’Reilly asked Mr. Trump about the time it would take for the policies to show results. The president pointed to corporations reportedly planning new projects in the U.S., stating the nation has historically been disadvantaged in trade deals and is now in a stronger negotiating position.
O’Reilly also questioned Mr. Trump about discussions he had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican. Mr. Trump suggested he urged a rare minerals deal with the U.S., which he framed as a way to repay American taxpayers for military support provided to Ukraine. The economic agreement just reached between the Trump administration and Ukraine on minerals could potentially impact the ongoing conflict with Russia.
An audience member, posing a question through O’Reilly, asked Mr. Trump about his biggest mistake so far in his term. The president responded by highlighting successes, saying it has “been all about success.”
Other topics discussed included the administration's focus on securing the border and reforming immigration laws, proposed extensive federal cuts, and efforts to address matters like diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, where Mr. Trump emphasized merit. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin were among other anticipated guests.
Mr. Trump defended his administration's freeze of federal grants to Harvard University, suggesting the funds could go to institutions with greater need, specifically mentioning support for HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities). He claimed his administration secured significantly more funding for these institutions than previously available.
Before concluding his appearance, Mr. Trump stated his goal is to "save the country."
