Cohen says Trump moved to allow direct US airline flights to Lebanon
"After meeting with the president of Lebanon, Joseph Ayun, who has done a remarkable job working to transform his country, I'm hereby directing the administration to allow all US airline carriers to fly directly to Lebanon so that Americans can easily visit this beautiful land. Hopefully, other countries will do the same and joy President Donald J. Trump."
About this episode
Brian Tyler Cohen argues that foreign leaders and domestic allies have learned to flatter Donald Trump to elicit favourable treatment, using footage and read-outs of public remarks as examples. He opens with a clip from a White House meeting with Lebanon’s president in which Trump responds positively to praise, then reads a post he attributes to Trump saying he is directing his administration to allow US airline carriers to fly directly to Lebanon.
Cohen then strings together additional examples of praise directed at Trump, including comments from an African leader supporting Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize and a clip of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presenting a letter he says he sent to the Nobel committee nominating Trump. The episode also includes a segment from a US Republican lawmaker predicting Trump will win the Nobel, with Cohen presenting these moments as evidence of a political incentive structure around personal adulation.
In the latter half, Cohen pivots to broader claims about corruption, alleging that access and policy are being traded for personal financial benefit through cryptocurrency, tariffs, and business dealings, and he criticises Republican lawmakers for failing to check the executive branch. The episode ends with Cohen promoting his forthcoming book, describing it as an argument for Democrats to use power more assertively.
Key takeaways
- Cohen plays a clip from Trump reacting approvingly to praise during a White House meeting with Lebanon’s president.
- Cohen reads what he describes as a Trump post directing the administration to permit direct US airline flights to Lebanon.
- The episode features clips of multiple figures praising Trump’s peace efforts and endorsing him for a Nobel Peace Prize.
- Cohen includes footage of Netanyahu presenting a nomination letter to Trump, calling it “well deserved”.
- A Republican lawmaker predicts Trump will win the Nobel Peace Prize and calls it a “travesty” if he does not.
- Cohen alleges the Trump presidency is marked by self-dealing and attacks Republicans in Congress for not acting as a check.
- Cohen closes with self-promotion for his book “The Day After: How to Wield Power in a PostTrump World”.