George Conway: Trump Asked Me if He Should Fire Preet Bharara | Podcast Clip

TL;DR

During a plane ride before his inauguration, the President-elect asked about firing the US attorney of the southern district of New York, raising questions about his intentions.

Transcript

a story that haunts me is about two days before the inauguration I was on a plane um it was the Trump plane and there were four people in the cabin there was the president-elect of the United States hope Hicks my then wife and me and we're just sitting like I was sitting about this far from the president- elect and he asked me this question he goes... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍💼 The US attorney's office in the southern district of New York considers itself independent of the Justice Department.
• 👶 It is not uncommon for new presidents to replace US attorneys in various districts.
• 🤨 The President-elect's interest in this particular district raised suspicions about his motivations.
• ✊ Having loyal individuals in positions of power is generally preferred in politics.
• 🔌 The author's response to the President-elect's question was generic and did not delve into the specific circumstances.
• 😣 The author has no significant memory of the rest of the plane ride, except for taking a selfie.
• 👰‍♀️ Riding on a plane with a future president was a unique and unforgettable experience for the author.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did the President-elect ask about firing the US attorney of the southern district of New York?

The author believes the President-elect had something on his mind, as it was not just a hometown preference but something important to him. The author is unsure of the exact reason.

Q: Did the author think the President-elect should fire the US attorney?

The author did not explicitly advise firing the US attorney but suggested that, all other things being equal, it would be preferable to have one's own person in such an important position. The author was giving a general answer without elaborating on the specific circumstances.

Q: Was the President-elect mad at the author for their response?

No, the President-elect was not angry with the author. He understood the reasoning behind the response and did not express any resentment towards the author.

Q: Did the author discuss this incident with PR?

Yes, the author shared the story with PR in one of the first podcasts. PR was informed about the conversation and did not show any negative reaction towards the author.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The author was on a plane with the President-elect, Hope Hicks, and their spouse.

• The President-elect asked if he should fire the US attorney of the southern district of New York.

• The author advised that it is generally better to have one's own people in positions of power.