President Donald Trump told NBC News’ Tom Llamas on Wednesday that he believes former President Bill Clinton “understood” him—and said he’s bothered by the idea of people “going after” Clinton.
“It bothers me that somebody is going after Bill Clinton. Actually, I like Bill Clinton,” Trump said, adding, “I like his behavior toward me.”
Llamas’ interview with the president covered a range of topics, including Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operations, the upcoming midterm elections, and potential 2028 ticket speculation.
Why It Matters
Trump’s remarks renew attention on long-running questions about his interactions with Bill Clinton in the lead-up to the 2016 election, while also reflecting Trump’s continued effort to portray his victory as something Democrats were privately cautioned about.
Trump defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton—Bill Clinton’s wife—in the 2016 presidential election.
Trump also claimed Bill Clinton advised Democrats against running Hillary Clinton against him, saying, “He was the one that said, very famously, that you don’t want to run against Trump.”
What To Know
In his conversation with Llamas, Trump described his relationship with Bill Clinton in favorable terms and said he didn’t like seeing him targeted—despite the history of political attacks involving the Clintons.
“Actually, I like Bill Clinton,” Trump said, prompting Llamas to ask what he liked about him.
“I like his behavior toward me. I thought he understood me,” Trump replied.
Trump went on to claim Bill Clinton warned Hillary Clinton and Democrats not to run against him. According to Trump, Bill Clinton told them, “Don’t run against Trump,” and suggested Hillary Clinton “laughed” at the advice before proceeding and losing.
Trump won the presidency in 2016, securing 304 electoral votes to Hillary Clinton’s 227, according to official Electoral College results.
Separately, the Clintons reached an agreement with House Republicans on Tuesday to testify later this month as part of a House investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, avoiding a potential contempt of Congress vote.
Under the agreement, Hillary Clinton is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee on February 26, followed by Bill Clinton on February 27. It would be the first time a former president has been compelled to testify before Congress.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump told Tom Llamas on NBC Wednesday that Bill Clinton warned his wife about running against him: “He said, Hillary, you know, whatever I know don’t run against Trump… And, they ran against Trump. It didn’t work out too well, did it?”
What Happens Next
It remains unclear whether Bill or Hillary Clinton will respond to Trump’s account of the alleged 2016 election advice.
