by Sharon Rondeau
(May 28, 2025) — At approximately 12:19 p.m. EDT, President Trump spoke from the White House in advance of the swearing-in of Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News co-host; former Westchester County, NY judge and former elected district attorney.
“She was way ahead of a lot of people,” Trump said of Pirro’s establishing of a cyber-crime unit while in serving as Westchester County district attorney. “Jeanine Pirro, I have no doubt, will be an exceptional U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.”
As an “interim” nominee, Pirro can serve a total of 120 days before facing the U.S. Senate confirmation process or leaving the post.
Attorney General Pam Bondi read the oath aloud, which Pirro repeated phrase by phrase at 12:23 p.m., with her daughter Christine, who is also an attorney, looking on.
Afterward, Bondi and Pirro exchanged a handshake and quick embrace.
At 12:24 p.m., Pirro took to the podium to speak about why she began her quest for justice decades ago, mentioning her longtime acquaintance with Trump and her gratitude for his encouragement.
Turning to her new responsibilities which commenced on May 8, she remarked, “Justice will be honored in the District of Columbia.”
She decried two recent deaths in the capital city. “My voice should be heard loud and clear: no more, no more tolerance of hatred; no more tolerance of criminals…This city will again become a shining city on the hill…Mr. President, America thanks you, and I thank you,” she concluded, then turned to her right to shake Trump’s hand.
Afterward Trump asked the press if there were any questions for Pirro. “You just want to talk to him,” Pirro quipped when no one spoke up, stepping back from the podium.
Trump stepped forward and reporters began to ask questions on the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza wars.
At 12:20, Trump called upon Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to the Middle East to provide an update on the conflicts. A “new term sheet” will be delivered to Iranian negotiators, he said. “I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution, temporary ceasefire and a long-term resolution…of that conflict,” Witkoff said.
After Witkoff’s brief statement, Trump answered more questions about Iran and the “great big beautiful bill” passed by the House and currently under consideration by the Senate.
“We’ll have a 65% increase” in taxes, Trump said, if the bill is not passed. It is expected to return to the House with changes, Trump said.
“We’re going to make people — one of the lowest tax rates we’ve ever had,” he continued. “We have zero Democrat votes, because they’re bad people,” he said. “They let 21 million people pour into our country…and we’re getting them out. We don’t have one Democrat vote…they’re voting for a 65% tax increase, and they’re only doing it for hatred…that means we have to get almost all Republican votes…”
“I think it will be very successful,” Trump concluded his thoughts.
As for the foreign trade tariffs he imposed on many countries, one reporter asked if he were a “chicken” by reducing or suspending it, as occurred with China and the E.U., respectively.
“It’s called ‘negotiation,’ Trump responded. “You set a number…145% tariff — even I said, ‘Wow…that’s high.’ They were doing no business whatsoever, and in many ways I think we really helped China tremendously…But don’t ever say what you said, because that’s a nasty question.”
“If the [2020] election weren’t rigged, you never would have had a war,” he said in response to a question about Russian president Vladimir Putin’s recent bombing of Ukrainian cities.
“This isn’t Trump’s war,” he asserted, and that he sees his role as stopping to it.
He expressed pride in having secured a jet gifted from Qatar to the U.S. Air Force. “It’s getting refitted” currently, he said.
To effect a “deal” on TikTok, Trump said, “we’re probably going to have to get China’s permission.”
When asked, he admitted to telling Israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he thought it “wasn’t appropriate” for Israel to take military action against Hamas in Gaza. That could “change at any moment,” he followed up.
As for Harvard University, to which Trump has ordered federal funding stopped, “they are anti-Semitic,” he said. Further, he said, he would prefer the more than $5 billion the school has received in taxpayer funds “go to trade schools.”
“They’ll teach people how to build motors and cars…we’ve never had a boom like you’re seeing now,” he said, “and they’re doing it because of November 5th and the tariffs…”
Harvard has refused to turn over its “lists” of foreign students attending on visas, he said.
On Friday, the institution filed a lawsuit over the administration’s canceling of the school’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification.
“Thirty-one percent” of Harvard students, Trump said, come from foreign countries.
On April 21, Harvard sued the federal government over its withdrawal of “research funding,” claiming it “violates First Amendment, laws, procedures.”
“Two weeks ago,” he said, Harvard announced it will offer “remedial mathematics.” “How do these people get into Harvard when you can’t do mathematics?…the last thing I want to do is hurt them…,” he said.
As opposed to Harvard, Trump said, Columbia University has made reforms and is now “out of the hot seat.”
At 12:49, Trump stopped taking questions, embraced Pirro briefly and the “press conference” ended.