Staff Reports
In a recent podcast with Lex Fridman, former President Donald Trump discussed his decision not to jail Hillary Clinton, claiming it wouldn’t have boded well for America’s reputation. The context of this riveting exchange revolved around the idea that tossing the former First Lady behind bars would make the United States look like just another cliched, chaotic banana republic. Instead, Trump asserted that he prioritized unifying the nation over indulging in political vendettas.
During the conversation, Trump, who had four years in office to consider the implications of his choices, insisted that Clinton was “lucky” he didn’t act on calls from his supporters who wanted to see her locked up. He reasoned that, as a former First Lady and Secretary of State, jailing her would have painted a picture of dysfunction that America simply cannot afford. In Trump’s eyes, such an act would not only have diminished the dignity of the office but also sent a misguided message about the country’s political climate. After all, who wants a leader who runs a political hit job on a former spouse?
The interview took another interesting turn when Trump reflected on his decision not to prosecute Hillary Clinton, saying, “She’s so lucky I didn’t do anything.”
Trump added that he “could have done a big number on Hillary Clinton,” but the reason he decided not to was because… pic.twitter.com/lJtsipPMbW
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) September 3, 2024
Fridman probed Trump’s psyche, asking if retaining leadership power could corrupt his view of the world. It appears Trump was not too concerned about such a hypothetical. He maintained his stance that if he were to re-enter the realm of power, he wouldn’t fall victim to that typical allure. His logic? When faced with the option of revenge against Clinton, he opted instead to walk the high road — an admirable, if not entirely self-preserving, approach.
Diving deeper into the rabbit hole of political absurdity, Trump contrasted his restraint with the Democratic opposition, which he accused of flagrant double standards and of suffering from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS). While he sat on his hands, Democrats allegedly spun narratives that only fueled their myth-making apparatus — claims of collusion with Russia and a conspiracy of intelligence agencies coming out of the woodwork. For Trump, this is the real crime: not what Clinton may or may not have done, but the perpetual quest to vilify him and his administration.
In the end, Trump’s talk of unity and restraint appears to mask a deeper understanding of political pragmatism. Avoiding a high-profile incarceration not only prevents the media from running wild with scandal but also keeps his hands clean while allowing his opponents to expose their own vulnerabilities. While his critics may wage war with their narratives, the former president insists that true leadership involves avoiding petty retribution. After all, in Trump’s world, the best revenge may just be winning again — this time, without handcuffs.
