After surviving two assassination attempts, former U.S. President Trump said he must overcome his fear because “if you are afraid, you cannot do your job effectively.”
In a recent interview conducted by veteran American investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump discussed his experiences. The interview is set to be aired on Sinclair Broadcast Group’s “Full Measure” program on Sunday.
According to a report by Just the News on Saturday, Attkisson directly asked Trump if these harrowing experiences had instilled fear in him.
Just a week ago, Trump was targeted in another assassination attempt, just over two months since a bullet grazed his ear during a public speech in Pennsylvania.
“I can’t be afraid,” Trump responded. “Because if you are afraid, you cannot do your job effectively. So, I can’t be afraid. So far, there have always been people protecting me, and everyone thinks that it’s not only those two (assassination attempts).”
Trump also discussed the possibility of offering specific government positions to independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Elon Musk, all of whom have announced their withdrawal from the presidential race.
Kennedy shifted his support to Trump after abandoning his independent bid. The lifelong Democrat credited Trump for giving him the opportunity to pursue the mission of “Making America Healthy Again” (MAHA).
“Robert Kennedy will do a great job in the health and environment field,” Trump said.
When asked about considering offering a position at the Department of Health and Human Services to Kennedy, Trump denied it.
“No. That doesn’t make any sense… I’m not making any deals with anyone because it’s inappropriate to do so now. It’s too early. But it’s almost the time soon, isn’t it?… So, we’ll see what happens,” he replied.
Trump further mentioned that Kennedy has been focused on diet, health, and healthcare for many years, researching issues related to chemical usage and national health in the United States and other countries.
Trump also talked about former Hawaiian congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who transitioned from being a Democrat to an independent. She supported Trump and assisted in preparing him for debates with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump praised Gabbard for being “sensible.”
“I watched her on the program for a long time. I have some understanding of her. It was a great honor to invite her to do this. She’s a Democrat and very popular in Hawaii,” Trump said.
As for billionaire Musk, Trump indicated that Musk may be willing to help solve some of the government’s issues.
“He (Musk) would do things, and what we talk about the most is cost,” Trump said. “He is a great reducer of costs.”
Trump commended Musk for his expertise in cost reduction.
“I tell you, Musk will come in and say, ‘This is what you have to do. This is what you have to do.’ He’s very interested in this. He thinks there’s too much waste in this country. He’s right. He’s 100% right.”
Sharyl Attkisson is an Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist who has been a television anchor for CBS News, CNN, and PBS.