New York — In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump joined former personal attorney Michael Cohen on Cohen’s 77 WABC radio program Thursday evening. The interview, which aired in part on Thursday and will be rebroadcast in full on Sunday, featured a notably cordial exchange between the two men who once stood on opposite sides of a high‑profile criminal trial.
From courtroom adversaries to radio guests
During the conversation, Trump praised Cohen for “recanting everything you said” and acknowledged the intense pressure Cohen had faced. “They weaponized you like nobody’s ever been weaponized, like few have been,” Trump said, before adding, “I respect the fact that you recanted everything you said. That’s a big thing that you did.” Cohen responded by emphasizing that forgiveness does not erase history, noting, “Forgiveness isn’t about erasing history; it is about having the courage to decide that yesterday will no longer dictate tomorrow.”
Cohen’s pending pardon request
Earlier that day, Cohen told CNN he had resubmitted a pardon application to the White House, which had been denied by the previous administration. He said he had not yet received a response and planned to follow up on Friday. The request underscores Cohen’s desire to move beyond his past legal troubles, which included a three‑year prison sentence for lying to Congress and campaign‑finance violations related to the Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal payments.
Background on the split
Cohen’s testimony in the 2024 criminal hush‑money trial placed Trump at the center of alleged schemes to suppress damaging stories during the 2016 campaign. Cohen described how he acted at Trump’s direction, handling payments to adult‑film actors and managing efforts to conceal the stories. The testimony contributed to Trump’s 34‑count felony conviction, though Cohen himself faced no additional punishment.
Following the trial, Cohen publicly claimed he had been pressured and coerced by prosecutors, a stance that paved the way for his current outreach to Trump. In a January Substack post, Cohen wrote that he felt forced to provide testimony that satisfied the government’s desire for a conviction.
Other recent reconciliations
The Trump‑Cohen truce joins a pattern of former allies returning to the former president’s circle. Recent examples include billionaire Elon Musk and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, both of whom have publicly mended fences after periods of disagreement.
What this means for the political landscape
While the interview contained only brief references to past disputes, the public nature of the reconciliation signals a potential shift in Trump’s network of supporters. Cohen’s renewed loyalty may influence how other former critics view their relationship with the former president, especially as Trump continues to position himself for future political endeavors.
The segment opened with the 1975 song “Why Can’t We Be Friends” and closed with lyrics from Peaches & Herb’s 1978 hit “Reunited,” underscoring the tone of the encounter.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
