President Donald Trump revealed just how easy it is to earn his undying support at the White House Easter lunch on Wednesday.
He admitted he’s easily seduced even by “bad people.”
Hours after storming out of a Supreme Court hearing, the president spoke at an Easter event held in the White House’s East Room, where he was joined by senior members of his Cabinet as well as national faith leaders.
Footage of the event was initially uploaded to the White House website and YouTube, but has since been removed.
During his speech, the president discussed his actions in Iran, claiming that, “through sheer force of personality,” he has enacted regime change “like nobody thought was possible.”
The 79-year-old then began singing the praises of one of the attendees, before launching into a discussion of his own personality and penchant for compliments.
“We’re not supposed to be seduced that way, right? But I am,” Trump said. “When somebody’s nice to me, I love that person.”
“Even if they’re bad people, I couldn’t care less, I’ll fight ‘til the end for them,” he added.
Trump has developed friendly relationships with several ‘bad people’ who have managed to flatter his ego, including controversial leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
“I have very good relationships with Kim Jong Un, from North Korea,” Trump told reporters in August. “A lot of people would say that’s terrible, no, it’s good. In fact, some day I’ll see him, I look forward to seeing him, he was very good with me.”
During his first term, Trump admitted that he was almost envious of the fear Kim Jong Un inspires in his people, telling Fox News, “He speaks, and his people sit up at attention... I wish my people would do the same.”
The president has consistently faced criticism for his relationship with Putin, with many, including his fellow conservatives, arguing that the president is overly deferential to the Russian leader.
The pair’s relationship is constantly in flux, with Trump going so far as to admit in July that “we get a lot of bulls--t thrown at us” by his Russian counterpart.
“He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
Much has also been made of Trump’s unusual relationship with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Despite disagreeing with Mamdani’s democratic socialist views, Trump has sung his praises, giving the mayor permission to call him a despot during their November meeting at the White House.
“I’ve been called much worse than a despot,” Trump said, after Mamdani was asked about previous comments he had made to that effect. “It’s not that insulting.”
“That’s OK, you can just say that stuff,” Trump added after Mamdani started to answer a question about whether he actually felt the president was a fascist.
“It’s easier,” Trump said, smiling. “It’s easier than explaining it.”
During Trump’s lengthy Easter speech, delivered hours before his evening Iran address, the president also offered up kind words for his own vice president, openly praising JD Vance for his weight loss.
Seeking Vance out in the audience, Trump eventually found him in the front row, telling attendees, “He’s lost weight. He got a little thinner.”
“I’m looking for a heavy-set gentleman,” Trump said to loud laughter, “and now I find a perfect-looking specimen. He’s doing a great job.”
