Rahm Emanuel Says Trump Faces a Choice After the Democrats Flip Congress — Amanpour and Company

[0:00] Rahm Emanuel, I just want to play a little bit, or not talk a little bit more about the Iran war, [0:04] because I've just been, you know, in the region there. [0:06] The negotiators, whether they're from Qatar or wherever, are very, very upset and worried [0:11] that there could be another massive outbreak of war. [0:15] They said that, you know, as you know, the administration had been telegraphing that there could be. [0:20] Trump, though, told the FT that he had no plans immediately to do that. [0:25] And the Iranians have put on their, you know, X, their official response is, [0:30] basically, we, the Iranians, have dealt the United States a strategic defeat on the battlefield [0:34] in the Straits of Hormuz and the American people, and a political defeat, [0:39] which the American people have had to pay the bill for this war. [0:42] We will not surrender, I'm just saying what they say, that they want to negotiate. [0:47] What do you think is possible to end this war? [0:50] Well, possible to end this war? Look, I mean, you have a big gulf here. [0:57] I personally, there's a personal view. I think the president doesn't want to do war. [1:02] He doesn't want to go back into military conflict. [1:06] From what I also know is that there's obviously ongoing both indirect conversations [1:11] and third-party conversations. And the truth is, the Iranians don't want to do a war. [1:15] Now, what is the gulf? It's the same gulf. [1:18] How do you handle the nuclear weapons? How do you handle the Strait of Hormuz [1:22] so they don't take control of the Strait of Hormuz and take an international waterway [1:26] as if it's their backwater and their control? [1:30] And those kind of strategic options in the United States. [1:33] Now, in my view, I would do a series of things, both on the short-term, medium, and long-term, [1:39] that would alter that. [1:40] I don't think either party actually wants conflict, [1:43] but neither party knows how to minimize and then narrow the bridge or bridge the differences here. [1:50] You know, somewhat the president, and I would go away from the Strait of Hormuz if I can, Christiana, [1:54] slightly from a historical standpoint. [1:57] In about a month from now, the president's going to go to the Asia-Pacific Economic Council. [2:02] There are going to be heads of states from 20-plus countries from around the world in that part of the world. [2:06] He has been desirous, as you know, since day one, for his little Potsdam conference with Stalin, Churchill, and, at that time, Truman. [2:18] And he's so envious and so much wants the picture of him with his fellow dictators. [2:23] And he's going to be the Churchill at the table because at Potsdam, Churchill got the election results, [2:29] and Attlee came in and had a sit-in for Great Britain. [2:31] He comes in to that conference that he wants a weakened man, and Putin and Xi will see a wounded, weakened, debilitated individual. [2:44] And now the president will finally get the meeting he's always wanted, the picture of the three, two of them clearly dictators. [2:49] We just showed that we're still a democracy and that we're an operating democracy, [2:53] and he will be the Churchill at the table, not the Roosevelt. [2:58] So that is a really interesting image, and particularly since he likes all this sphere of influence talk. [3:03] But if he goes in weakened, that's an issue. [3:06] But here's the thing. [3:07] Does it then behoove him to do what he said he would do, which is work with the Democrats? [3:12] Let me play this bit of an interview from this morning after the results from President Trump. [3:18] Well, we're going to work with the Democrats to make sure things go well for our country. [3:23] Very important. [3:24] They've already called, and they want to work with me. [3:26] I have the right to veto everything. [3:28] But I don't want to be just sitting there for two years vetoing everything. [3:31] They want to see things happen, too. [3:33] I've already spoken to certain leaders of the Democrat Party. [3:39] So, Ram, what do you make of that? [3:41] Because, you know, work with all the rest of it. [3:44] The Democrats, you said, have a whole list of agenda that they need to do. [3:46] But he can veto everything, right? [3:49] Sure, he can. [3:51] Look, I start from a view as a former mayor, former chief of staff. [3:54] I'm going to seek common ground, but I know how to hold my ground. [3:59] And so the general attitude should be, look, we're going to raise a minimum wage. [4:02] And mark my words, you're going to get a lot of Republicans in the House and the Senate. [4:06] I'm going to vote with Democrats. [4:07] Then the president has to make a decision. [4:10] Sign or override. [4:12] Lobbying and ethics reform, big bipartisan majorities are going to be for that. [4:17] Sign or be overridden. [4:20] You do tariff relief, which is what is driving farmers crazy and consumers crazy, [4:25] and you have a rural-urban coalition about how tariffs have hurt. [4:30] Sign or be overridden. [4:32] And so, yes, he has the right to veto, but he's going to look at the numbers that the legislation [4:37] and what you have to do when you do legislative, what unites our team, and divides the other side. [4:43] And that is, if you put points on the board, if you actually bring the change that people, [4:50] moderate Republicans, independents have voted for Democrats, [4:52] if you bring that type of change, you're going to take an electoral coalition [4:57] and make it a governing coalition. [5:00] That's what 2027 offers as an opportunity for Democrats. [5:03] And the president Trump has to look at this and decide whether he wants to be a diminished president [5:08] or play a role. [5:10] Now, look, let's go back to history. [5:12] I just did one going all back to 45. [5:14] Ronald Reagan, in the last two years of his presidency, [5:16] when the Democrats controlled after the midterm election of 86, [5:22] he did welfare reform. [5:24] He did immigration also happen then. [5:27] You can get things done. [5:29] Bill Clinton also did that after 1998 on certain things. [5:33] So the opportunity exists, but if the president wants to act like Congress, [5:38] like the way he traded Congress under the Republicans, [5:40] he's in for an awakening. [5:42] The Democratic Congress will not be the lapdog the Republican Congress is coming out of power now. [5:46] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [5:47] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [5:48] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [5:49] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [5:50] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [5:51] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [5:52] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [5:53] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [5:54] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [5:55] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [5:56] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [5:57] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [5:58] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [5:59] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [6:00] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [6:01] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [6:02] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now. [6:03] The Democratic Congress is coming out of power now.