Trump hails Cohen recantation in interview, but analysts doubt it
Michael Cohen interviewed Donald Trump and was praised for recanting past criticism, but BBC analysts say he has not actually recanted and is seeking financial gain.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Michael Cohen, President Trump's former lawyer and fixer, conducted an interview with the president on WABC radio, during which Trump thanked him for recanting his previous statements. The exchange, described by one BBC analyst as 'extraordinary', saw the two men trade compliments about their shared experience of being 'weaponized'.
In the interview, Cohen brought up a 2016 CNN appearance where he responded to a poll showing Trump underwater with the phrase 'says who', which became a meme. Trump replied: 'A good advocate, and then they weaponized you, like nobody's ever been weaponized, like few have been.' He added: 'I respect the fact that you recanted everything you said, and that's a big thing that you did.'
However, the BBC's Luke Broadwater, who has covered Cohen's testimony, expressed disbelief. 'Recanted? I can't understand this,' he said. Broadwater noted that Cohen had previously given 'some of the most damning testimony against Donald Trump, both in the halls of Congress' and in court, where he described Trump as a 'con man' and a 'racist'. He suggested Cohen's change of tone was driven by financial interest: 'Now that Donald Trump is president again and Michael Cohen is looking for revenue streams, it appears to me he believes it's in his financial interest to make nice with the president again.'
Broadwater also said Trump was using the interview as evidence that legal cases against him were 'weaponized', even though Cohen had not, to his knowledge, actually recanted. The interview aired as part of a WABC special presentation, with Cohen acting as interviewer. The broader context is that Cohen spent years as Trump's personal attorney and fixer before turning against him, testifying in Congress and at Trump's civil fraud trial. The sudden warmth between the two men marks a striking reversal, but whether it represents a genuine recantation remains disputed.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News |
|---|---|
| Cohen previously gave testimony against Trump in Congress and in court. | |
| Cohen's interview with Trump is motivated by financial gain and a desire to promote his radio show. | |
| Michael Cohen has not retracted his previous statements about Trump. | |
| Questions about military strikes have also led to Trump's outbursts. | |
| Trump is using the interview as evidence of a witch hunt against him. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This channel aired the interview clip and then brought in guest analyst Luke Broadwater to provide context. The tone was skeptical, questioning whether Cohen had genuinely recanted and suggesting financial motives. It highlighted the contrast between Cohen's past damning testimony and his current warm interview with Trump.
- “Recanted? I can't understand this.”
- “he, it appears to me, believes it's in his financial interest to make nice with the president again”
- “Donald Trump seems happy to use him as an exhibit as evidence of sort of a witch hunt against him.”
This broadcast did not cover the Michael Cohen interview. Instead, it focused on President Trump's treatment of reporters, including insults directed at female journalists. No mention was made of Cohen or the recantation story.
Broadcast Timeline
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