The Spectacle of Trump at 80
6/13/202633 min
What does it say about President Trump — and America — that the soon-to-be octogenarian plans to celebrate his 80th birthday with a series of U.F.C. matches on the White House lawn? On “The Opinions,” the Times contributor Robert Siegel and fellow contributors E.J. Dionne Jr. and Peter Wehner debate this form of “human cockfighting,” and take stock of the state of the nation ahead of America’s 250th birthday.
Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.
This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Vishakha Darbha. It was edited by Kaari Pitkin and Jillian Weinberger. Mixing by Carole Sabouraud. Video editing by Steph Khoury and Kristen Williamson. The postproduction manager is Mike Puretz. Original music by Carole Sabouraud. Fact-checking by Mary Marge Locker. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta and Kristina Samulewski. The director of Opinion Video is Jonah M. Kessel. The deputy director of Opinion Shows is Alison Bruzek. The director of Opinion Shows is Annie-Rose Strasser.
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
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Robert Siegel· Host0:26
The military personnel who are selected to have tickets, uh, to this event, they are required to meet current waist-to-height ratio and physical fitness standards, so the crowd should look good.
E.J. Dionne Jr.· Guest0:37
[laughs] Yeah, well, I guess there'll be an exception for the, uh, president- Well, yes [laughs] ... uh, in, in that case.
Robert Siegel· Host0:42
I think so. I think so. [upbeat music] Hi, I'm Robert Siegel, in conversation about politics with two very insightful observers of American politics and society, our regular participant, author, and, uh, New York Times opinion contributor, E.J. Dionne, elevated.
E.J. Dionne Jr.· Guest1:00
Great to be with you.
Robert Siegel· Host1:01
Good to see you again. And, uh, Peter Wehner, who's a contributor to The Times and also The Atlantic, uh, and who served as a speechwriter in three Republican administrations, Ronald Reagan's and the two Bushes. Thanks for joining us.
Peter Wehner· Guest1:12
Great to be with both of you, thanks.
E.J. Dionne Jr.· Guest1:13
Great to have you, Pete.
Robert Siegel· Host1:14
And, uh, we're gonna start by taking note of the birthday that falls on this weekend, Donald Trump's 80th. Uh, we went more than two centuries without having an octogenarian in the White House, and now we've had two in a row. And I'd, I'd like to hear your thoughts about, uh, Trump at 80, and especially,