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World
Donald Trump discusses the key lesson he learned about power and reveals the background of his famous "I am the leader" comment during a recent G7 summit.
Nearly ten years after first assuming the presidency, Donald Trump disclosed what he considers the most important lesson he has learned about exercising power. At the same time, he shared details about the context of his well-known statement, "I am the leader."
In an interview with Axios, the former U.S. president stated that the crucial lesson he learned regarding authority is that it must be wielded with wisdom and prudence. He added that experience is valuable, noting, "I have always said that potential and abilities are much more important than experience alone, but having both together is excellent."
Trump reflected on his first term, saying he gained a great deal of knowledge during that period. He mentioned that shortly after the highly successful G7 summit, where his administration clearly dominated and achieved its goals, he was told that his current administration is much stronger than his first.
He described his initial term as "good," highlighting accomplishments such as maintaining the best economy, achieving many successes, rebuilding the military, and doing excellent work overall. However, he expressed the belief that his current term is more powerful than the first.
When asked about the reason for this, Trump attributed it to experience and also to the fact that the person who preceded him was, in his words, "a disaster in every sense of the word." He said, "It was a real disaster. When you are compared to someone like that, you may seem better than you actually are, which is possible. But I feel this administration is very strong right now," referring to his predecessor Joe Biden.
Trump also revealed the story behind his famous "I am the leader" remark made during the final day of the recent G7 leaders' summit. He explained that he was joking when he said it. "What happened was they were all sitting, then I entered the room. It was somewhat funny because the table was very long, but there were only seven attendees. The table was designed for nearly thirty people."
He continued, "One end of the table looked like a perfect platform for a speech. I saw all the leaders sitting in front of me; they are well-known figures and heads of state. There were also some other guests, like Indian Prime Minister Modi, who is a great man. Many leaders can attend and sit if they want."
Trump recounted, "When I entered and saw them all, I said to them: 'I am the leader here.' You remember that well. But it was just a joke, and the news spread all over the world. I still can't believe it," adding, "I was just trying to be funny and amusing. I wasn't really trying to appear as the president controlling everyone."
Regarding his views on global leaders, Trump said there are many different types. He cited Indian Prime Minister Modi again, calling him a distinctive figure. Trump said he has observed India throughout his life and noted that governments there changed frequently, with some leaders lasting six months or a year. Modi, however, has been in office for over twelve years.
He described Modi as very stable and leading with great calmness, although not actually a quiet person. "He is a very tough man, and I know him well," Trump said. He contrasted this with other leaders, mentioning Brazil's president, whom he knows slightly and described as highly emotional.
Trump also praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling him "very intelligent." He stated, "No one can reach the leadership of a country, even a small one, without having something exceptional. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but they must have something special. This task is not easy."
On what he admires most about President Xi, Trump said, "We have a very good relationship. Perhaps you heard what I said yesterday when I thanked him for not interfering in everything related to Iran."
He elaborated, "He could have intervened. He could have sent a large oil tanker surrounded by 12 naval destroyers to try to break the blockade. That blockade was an amazing military operation that would be recorded as one of the greatest military maneuvers. I think it was as important as the bombing operations themselves. They were suffering badly; no money or resources for several months. I personally asked President Xi not to interfere and told him I would appreciate it greatly. He was very cooperative."
Regarding the greatest or most admired international leaders, Trump named Chinese President Xi and Indian Prime Minister Modi. He also mentioned Pakistan’s General Asim Munir, describing him as a remarkable figure and noting an excellent relationship between the general and the prime minister.
Trump said he initially thought the military leader might dominate the scene but observed that the general shows full respect to the prime minister. "It is nice to see. They helped us a lot in this deal. They knew the Iranians and the people involved and were very helpful," he added.
He concluded by stating, "There are leaders of many different kinds. Overall, if you are a smart person, you understand that reaching these positions requires intelligence. It also requires toughness, and perhaps intelligence more than anything else, but the combination of both is best."
