Here Are the Craziest Moments from Trump’s Presser: ‘Gulf of America’ Idea to Hezbollah Capitol Rioters

Donald Trump held a press conference on Tuesday, which was supposed to focus on foreign investment and his vision for America’s economy. Instead, it became a whirlwind of bold claims, unexpected announcements, and personal attacks. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the key moments.

When a reporter asked Trump if he could assure world leaders that his tough rhetoric about the Panama Canal and Greenland wouldn’t lead to economic or military actions, Trump didn’t hold back.
“I’m not going to commit to that,” he said bluntly. “The Panama Canal is vital to the United States. But now it’s being run by China! We gave it to Panama, not China. They’ve abused that gift.”

Trump went on to criticize the decision to hand over control of the canal, calling it “a very big mistake.”
“We lost 38,000 people and spent what would be trillions of dollars today to build it. It’s probably the most expensive structure ever built, and we just gave it away. It’s not right, and it’s something we need to take a hard look at.”

Greenland also came up, but Trump didn’t elaborate much beyond saying, “It’s something we’ll be talking about in the future.”

In a surprising turn, Trump revealed plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”
“It has a beautiful ring to it,” he said, smiling. “The Gulf of America. It’s appropriate, and it reflects our nation’s greatness. It covers a lot of territory, and it’s a name that matches the spirit of our country.”

While the announcement caught many off guard, Trump appeared confident that the change would be well-received. “It’s about reclaiming our identity and showing pride in who we are,” he added.

Trump couldn’t resist diving into his ongoing legal battles. He launched a tirade against Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has brought criminal cases against him.
“Jack Smith is a nasty guy, a mean guy,” Trump said. “He’s part of a corrupt system trying to influence the election by going after me. This kind of thing happens in banana republics, not in America.”

He didn’t stop there. “They brought this guy out of The Hague. He looks like a villain from a movie. And he executes people—literally! If he had the chance, he’d execute everyone who doesn’t agree with him. He’s a nut job.”

Trump claimed victory over Smith, boasting, “We’ve beaten them in every case. Nobody’s won more cases against the Justice Department than I have.”

Trump shifted gears to criticize President Joe Biden’s energy and appliance policies, turning a discussion about infrastructure into a humorous, yet pointed, rant.
“Biden wants to get rid of gas heaters and force everyone to use electric heaters,” Trump said. “Gas heaters are cheaper and give better heat. Electric heaters are expensive, and we don’t even have enough electricity to power them. It makes no sense.”

He then mocked water-saving appliances.
“They want your faucets to barely drip water. Same with your showers. It’s drip, drip, drip. You end up staying in the shower twice as long or running your dishwasher five times to clean your dishes. It’s a joke!”

Trump claimed his administration had rolled back these policies, but warned, “They’re trying to bring them back stronger than ever. We have plenty of water in this country, especially in areas where it rains all the time. Why are we acting like we don’t?”

When asked if he planned to pardon individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, Trump gave a carefully worded response.
“We’re looking at it,” he said. “Some people who did bad things weren’t prosecuted, and others who didn’t even go into the Capitol are in jail right now. That’s not fair.”

He promised a thorough review of the cases, adding, “There will be major pardons. We need to look at the whole situation and make things right.”

The press conference was vintage Trump: a mix of bold ideas, sharp criticisms, and off-the-cuff remarks that left reporters scrambling to keep up. Whether discussing global geopolitics or household appliances, Trump made it clear that he plans to govern with the same unpredictability and bravado that has defined his public persona.