President Donald Trump opened up in a new interview with The Atlantic, saying he runs the “country and the world,” offering a glimpse into how he views the differences between his first and second terms in office.
Speaking candidly, Trump said that, compared to his first term, he now feels in full command—not just of the United States, but of global affairs as well.
“The first time, I had two things to do—run the country and survive; I had all these crooked guys,” Trump told The Atlantic in a piece published Monday. “And the second time, I run the country and the world.”
Trump also said he’s enjoying the job more this time around, despite the high stakes. “I’m having a lot of fun, considering what I do,” he added. “You know, what I do is such serious stuff.”
The interview came after Trump announced on Truth Social that he would be sitting down with The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, out of “curiosity.” Insiders reportedly told The Atlantic that Trump appears more relaxed and confident in his second term compared to the often embattled atmosphere of his first.
During the wide-ranging conversation, Trump spoke at length about the media, specifically offering praise for tech billionaires who own major news outlets, including Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post.
“He’s 100 percent. He’s been great,” Trump said of Bezos. He also praised Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, adding, “Zuckerberg’s been great.”
Speaking about the broader media landscape, Trump suggested that many media owners eventually “give up” their activist agendas, leading reporters to believe he was once again referencing Bezos. Earlier this year, Trump praised Bezos for attempting to reshape The Washington Post into a more balanced publication after a series of leadership changes.
The conversation also turned to Trump’s political opponents. He argued that the Democratic Party is suffering from a leadership vacuum and a crisis of confidence.
“I don’t think they know what they’re doing. I think they have no leader,” Trump said. “You know, if you ask me now, I know a lot about the Democrat Party, right? I can’t tell you who their leader is. I can’t tell you that I see anybody on the horizon.”
Addressing criticisms from the left that he might ignore unfavorable court rulings, Trump committed to respecting decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court. “You have to do that,” he told The Atlantic firmly.
When asked whether he might attempt to seek a third term, Trump dismissed the idea. “It’s not something that I’m looking to do,” he said. “And I think it would be a very hard thing to do.”