Trump and Cohen Reunite on Radio, Blame Media for Weaponizing Former Ally

President Donald Trump and his estranged former personal attorney Michael Cohen sat down Thursday for an unexpected radio conversation, marking their first public interaction in approximately nine years. During the wide-ranging interview on Cohen’s show, the two men discussed how mainstream media outlets allegedly turned Cohen into a weapon against Trump in the years following their split.

Cohen recalled his 2016 CNN appearance with anchor Brianna Keilar, where he famously responded to questions about Trump’s poll standing with the phrase “says who”—a moment that subsequently went viral. Trump acknowledged that media organizations had aggressively weaponized Cohen’s public profile, though he claimed his own mistreatment by news organizations exceeded even that experience.

The former lawyer emphasized that CNN never formally apologized or retracted statements from that interview, and he noted that left-leaning outlets continue to cite unfavorable polling numbers for Trump years later. Both men criticized the accuracy and credibility of media polls throughout the 40-minute discussion, with Trump specifically challenging reporting by The New York Times.

Cohen also shared that Trump had encouraged him after the CNN interview, telling him to disregard media critics. The two-part interview will air on Cohen’s Sunday show “When You Know You Know,” with Cohen additionally publishing details of their reunion on Substack. CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times did not immediately respond to requests for comment.