Vaughn Hilliard

Right.

And this is where the question here of where all of this would end would ultimately go.

Because what was made clear by the president of the United States is that in this administration, he was going to nominate people into the DOJ, into the FBI, who were willing to carry out and be loyal to his desires.

And that is where we saw very clearly articulated by the president over the last years that

For instance, when it comes to James Comey, who depicted him in social media posts in orange jumpsuits, Letitia James, Adam Schiff, each of these individuals here.

And there is a question coming into this administration.

We reported back one year ago in September of 2024, the way in which

the Trump administration 2.0 could potentially even try to use acting U.S.

attorneys, which is exactly what happened with Lindsey Halligan because they carry and hold the same power that a U.S.

attorney confirmed by the U.S.

Senate.

That could be a prolonged process to get to that confirmation point, but they hold the exact same powers that a confirmed U.S.

attorney has.

And so as we saw with the removal of the U.S.

attorney on Friday and with Lindsey Halligan, who we should note had been most recently working

on removing history at the Smithsonian that did not put the United States in the greatest image.

He has effectively empowered an individual with the power of a U.S.

attorney to move forward with that.

We know the Letitia James investigation continues in the Eastern District of Virginia.

The Adam Schiff investigation continues on in Maryland here.

And so there's a real question coming out of this is exactly

Where does all of this go in the case of George Soros, right?

We know that the vice president himself had suggested trying to remove the tax exempt status of the Open Society Foundations, the network that was created by George Soros here.

But now you are seeing an actual activity here in an attempt to investigate George Soros.

These were individuals

long targeted by the president in political terms.

Right.

In 2018, George Soros, his name was said by Donald Trump more than just about any candidates.

But now the question here is on the legal front.

Will he find U.S.

attorneys or potential acting U.S.

attorneys that can actually go forward and try to seek indictments or some other court of criminal action of similar capacity?

I think when we're talking about individuals and allies of Donald Trump, I think that so many of the stories that we are looking at, including this one, come down to who is that nucleus around Donald Trump. And one other name that I would throw out there would be Charlie Kirk.

I think when we're talking about individuals and allies of Donald Trump, I think that so many of the stories that we are looking at, including this one, come down to who is that nucleus around Donald Trump. And one other name that I would throw out there would be Charlie Kirk.

And the reason I bring up Charlie Kirk is because one year ago, I, along with a few other NBC colleagues, reported a story in which Charlie Kirk, the right-wing provocateur and ally of Donald Trump,

And the reason I bring up Charlie Kirk is because one year ago, I, along with a few other NBC colleagues, reported a story in which Charlie Kirk, the right-wing provocateur and ally of Donald Trump,

He had put out in the public sphere on a podcast that he was concerned when he got on airplanes when he saw a black pilot because he questioned whether they were hired because of DEI hiring initiatives and not because they were qualified.

He had put out in the public sphere on a podcast that he was concerned when he got on airplanes when he saw a black pilot because he questioned whether they were hired because of DEI hiring initiatives and not because they were qualified.

And at that time, there were some allies of Donald Trump's, including RNC Chairman Ron McDaniel, who went directly to then candidate Donald Trump with that specific remark. And they wanted to make sure that Donald Trump heard that because they thought that he would not want Charlie Kirk around him because of that.

And at that time, there were some allies of Donald Trump's, including RNC Chairman Ron McDaniel, who went directly to then candidate Donald Trump with that specific remark. And they wanted to make sure that Donald Trump heard that because they thought that he would not want Charlie Kirk around him because of that.

that suggestion that somehow black camp pilots were not qualified to be flying in America.

that suggestion that somehow black camp pilots were not qualified to be flying in America.

And instead, one year later, when I heard those remarks from the White House, it took me back to that story one year ago, because instead of Donald Trump pushing Charlie Kirk away, he fundamentally embraced that very ideology of questioning the aviation industry and the extent to which individuals are in it, whether they be pilots or air traffic controllers or even members of the military, because of DEI hiring initiatives.

And instead, one year later, when I heard those remarks from the White House, it took me back to that story one year ago, because instead of Donald Trump pushing Charlie Kirk away, he fundamentally embraced that very ideology of questioning the aviation industry and the extent to which individuals are in it, whether they be pilots or air traffic controllers or even members of the military, because of DEI hiring initiatives.

There's an inability to explain what the ultimate endgame is of this. And that is why it is so striking to see the likes of Chuck Grassley, Rand Paul, Susan Collins, even Ted Cruz, suggesting that he could potentially get on board with this 60-day requirement that ultimately Congress would have to approve these tariffs.

There's an inability to explain what the ultimate endgame is of this. And that is why it is so striking to see the likes of Chuck Grassley, Rand Paul, Susan Collins, even Ted Cruz, suggesting that he could potentially get on board with this 60-day requirement that ultimately Congress would have to approve these tariffs.

Because what you are looking at is an administration compared to the first one. that has not articulated over the last 24 hours what concessions they're even looking for from these litany of countries, right? In talking, I just got off a plane from the Midwest here where I was talking with some Republican farmers, ones that voted for Trump three times, absolutely.

Because what you are looking at is an administration compared to the first one. that has not articulated over the last 24 hours what concessions they're even looking for from these litany of countries, right? In talking, I just got off a plane from the Midwest here where I was talking with some Republican farmers, ones that voted for Trump three times, absolutely.

But even they said that the first go around, they were able to articulate, right? We want to renegotiate NAFTA, right? Or we're going to take the China. We want greater market access. We want them to stop, you know, putting money towards state Chinese subsidized companies, right? There was a lot of like actual tangibles.

But even they said that the first go around, they were able to articulate, right? We want to renegotiate NAFTA, right? Or we're going to take the China. We want greater market access. We want them to stop, you know, putting money towards state Chinese subsidized companies, right? There was a lot of like actual tangibles.

But whether it be Secretary Besant or Secretary Lutnick or the president himself, they have struggled to say and articulate to these members of Congress, but also the American people, what their goal is of this here at a time in which we're watching an American economy here question itself.

But whether it be Secretary Besant or Secretary Lutnick or the president himself, they have struggled to say and articulate to these members of Congress, but also the American people, what their goal is of this here at a time in which we're watching an American economy here question itself.

Do we have any sense of what that is? Well, the president himself said this was not going to be a negotiating tactic until today. He said it was a negotiating tactic.

Do we have any sense of what that is? Well, the president himself said this was not going to be a negotiating tactic until today. He said it was a negotiating tactic.

And this is where the administration has struggled to articulate what the actual purpose is of these tariffs at a time in which there are millions of Americans who are looking at their retirement accounts, questioning the direction that whether they're going to have the means to continue on in this fashion. But then you also have the likes of when you're talking about some of these farmers who

And this is where the administration has struggled to articulate what the actual purpose is of these tariffs at a time in which there are millions of Americans who are looking at their retirement accounts, questioning the direction that whether they're going to have the means to continue on in this fashion. But then you also have the likes of when you're talking about some of these farmers who

who were questioning what crops that they're currently seeding here in these weeks ahead. Where are those export markets going to be? If you take corn, for instance, about 30% of corn is exported overseas, about 25% of pork. And these are folks, right? They're not just out there planting, but they're out

who were questioning what crops that they're currently seeding here in these weeks ahead. Where are those export markets going to be? If you take corn, for instance, about 30% of corn is exported overseas, about 25% of pork. And these are folks, right? They're not just out there planting, but they're out

They're actually going overseas and actually making these trading partners themselves, finding those export markets. And they're questioning not just this fall, but long term. Is China going to turn to Brazil for corn instead? I think those are the questions that the administration to this day has still been unable to answer.

They're actually going overseas and actually making these trading partners themselves, finding those export markets. And they're questioning not just this fall, but long term. Is China going to turn to Brazil for corn instead? I think those are the questions that the administration to this day has still been unable to answer.

And I think it's important to know who is actually having this conversation in the Oval Office. We cannot move away from the point. that while he was preparing to make these Rose Garden remarks yesterday, it was Laura Loomer who was there inside of the Oval Office with him. And why is that important? Because she is a preeminent conspiracy theorist who has no regard for basic facts and the truth.

And I think it's important to know who is actually having this conversation in the Oval Office. We cannot move away from the point. that while he was preparing to make these Rose Garden remarks yesterday, it was Laura Loomer who was there inside of the Oval Office with him. And why is that important? Because she is a preeminent conspiracy theorist who has no regard for basic facts and the truth.

And the fact that those, when we look at the history books at this moment, On April 2nd at the White House, the fact that such an announcement like that was made at the same time that Laura Loomer was in the Oval Office with him is striking.

And the fact that those, when we look at the history books at this moment, On April 2nd at the White House, the fact that such an announcement like that was made at the same time that Laura Loomer was in the Oval Office with him is striking.

And I think it goes to the fact that there are serious questions from economists about exactly what the endgame here is in how the president perceives his own economic policy and its impact on people.

And I think it goes to the fact that there are serious questions from economists about exactly what the endgame here is in how the president perceives his own economic policy and its impact on people.

No. And as opposed to the first administration, the likes of Dina Powell or Gary Cohn, who were there by the president's side. I think that's where it's important when you're looking at somebody like Susie Wiles, the chief of staff to the president of the United States. She was heralded as a successful campaign manager. You know why she was successful? Why Republicans loved Susie Wiles?

No. And as opposed to the first administration, the likes of Dina Powell or Gary Cohn, who were there by the president's side. I think that's where it's important when you're looking at somebody like Susie Wiles, the chief of staff to the president of the United States. She was heralded as a successful campaign manager. You know why she was successful? Why Republicans loved Susie Wiles?

Because she was not a true gatekeeper to Donald Trump. She allowed everybody to have his ear. And ultimately, Donald Trump ran his campaign. She is now the chief of staff. And what we are watching in these first two and a half months of this administration is yet again the full access to the president himself. And he is the one who is calling these shots.

Because she was not a true gatekeeper to Donald Trump. She allowed everybody to have his ear. And ultimately, Donald Trump ran his campaign. She is now the chief of staff. And what we are watching in these first two and a half months of this administration is yet again the full access to the president himself. And he is the one who is calling these shots.

And as he promised, he surrounded himself by people in this cabinet who knew what they were signing up for this go around. He was promising on the campaign trail tariffs on China of up to 60 percent. That is exactly what he's now implementing. And he had people like Howard Lutnick there at Madison Square Garden the week before the election on the stage celebrating those tariffs.

And as he promised, he surrounded himself by people in this cabinet who knew what they were signing up for this go around. He was promising on the campaign trail tariffs on China of up to 60 percent. That is exactly what he's now implementing. And he had people like Howard Lutnick there at Madison Square Garden the week before the election on the stage celebrating those tariffs.

And I think notably, Eamon, convincing a great share of this American population, millions of Americans, including one I just got off the phone with, that this is the right path forward in that short term pain is the president is telling them that they are about to endure, whether it be from the farms or from the brewery or over at their local store or the 401k being wiped out today.

And I think notably, Eamon, convincing a great share of this American population, millions of Americans, including one I just got off the phone with, that this is the right path forward in that short term pain is the president is telling them that they are about to endure, whether it be from the farms or from the brewery or over at their local store or the 401k being wiped out today.

That short-term pain is going to be worth it in the end. And there are millions of Americans that voted in that belief and now are expecting him to come through. The question is, that first administration, he had tariffs on Canada and Mexico for nine months. He had tariffs on China for 18 months.

That short-term pain is going to be worth it in the end. And there are millions of Americans that voted in that belief and now are expecting him to come through. The question is, that first administration, he had tariffs on Canada and Mexico for nine months. He had tariffs on China for 18 months.

This is not a president who has ever shown a willingness to back down or acknowledge that he was wrong.

This is not a president who has ever shown a willingness to back down or acknowledge that he was wrong.