Trump Panics in Oval after $12 Billion Transfer

22 Jun 2026 · 17 min · 8 chapters

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In short

A chaotic Trump Oval Office press conference reacting to a reported Iran deal: lifting U.S. oil and petrochemical sanctions and unfreezing about $12 billion (with $6 billion unfrozen), plus a Treasury general license waiving key sanctions until Aug. 21. The episode also mocks Trump’s claims about the Washington reflecting pool’s algae being caused by “vandals/Antifa” adding fertilizer, and his rambling remarks on NATO/Italy, quantum, AOC, and Einstein.

Guests

None mentioned in the provided transcript.

Guest backgrounds

Not applicable.

Key claims

Trump didn’t seem to know sanctions were lifted; he says money will go to American farmers; Iran won’t use profits against the U.S. if it “respects” the U.S.; reflecting pool damage/algae came from vandals with a knife/box cutter; he claims “problem solver” fixes Netanyahu/Lebanon issues.

Notable examples

Strait of Hormuz control/tolls (via Iran’s negotiator MB Ghalibov in Muscat, Oman); Iran leaving negotiations after Trump posted attacks; “five arrested, five under investigation” for reflecting pool vandalism; Trump dismissing Einstein/quantum questions as “nobody cares.”

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

Tap a time to open that second in VO

Trump's Disastrous Press Conference

0:04 to 2:44

Discussing Trump's strange remarks during a press conference related to Iran.

“Their products are trusted in Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide and designed to perform just as well in your kitchen.”

Iran Negotiations and Sanctions

2:44 to 5:02

Exploring the details of the negotiations and the lifting of sanctions on Iran.

“Galiboff also talked about the unfreezing of$12 billion.”

Trump's Confused Statements

5:02 to 7:32

Analyzing Trump's bewildering comments regarding Iran and its needs.

“So the mechanism is - You know, we have a navy that had a blockade.”

Trump's Claims About Algae and Antifa

7:32 to 10:00

Examining Trump's bizarre claims about algae in the reflecting pool and Antifa.

“You know, but when I watch AOC, have no idea what a simple question, what happened when she was over in Switzerland, which probably never went there before, but she was, and then I watched somebody like JD or Marco.”

Trump's Responses to Reporters

10:00 to 12:20

Reviewing Trump's dismissive remarks towards reporters and their questions.

“And Donald Trump's like, that's such a stupid question that you're asking.”

Trump's Thoughts on NATO and Italy

12:20 to 14:01

Discussing Trump's criticism of NATO and his comments on Italy's role.

“Donald Trump then starts to attack NATO.”

Discussion on Legal Issues and Arrests

14:01 to 14:28

Learn about recent legal developments and investigations involving arrests.

“But all you have to do is call the Parks Department, call the Department of Interior.”

Discussion on Legal Issues and Arrests

15:15 to 15:43

Learn about recent legal developments and investigations involving arrests.

“That's why there's Jerry, your proactive insurance assistant.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:00Ben Meiselas:This podcast is sponsored by Made In Cookware. Made In partners with multi-generational artisans and some of the world's best chefs to create professional quality cookware, knives and kitchen tools. Their products are trusted in Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide and designed to perform just as well in your kitchen. From five-ply stainless clad to carbon steel, every piece is built to last and made to actually make you a better cook. Discover award-winning cookware at MadeInCookware.com.

0:56Ben Meiselas:of the way we work. Create your own AI agent in minutes on monday.com. Donald Trump just had a disastrous press conference in the Oval Office. He didn't seem to even realize that the United States just lifted all oil sanctions and petrochemical sanctions against Iran. And the United States is unfreezing around$12 billion in addition to removing those oil and petrochemical sanctions against Iran. Then Donald Trump said, yeah, but Iran's going to buy all of this produce from our farmers, so it's going to work out in the end. And then Donald Trump claimed that the reflecting pool built up all of this algae because vandals were throwing fertilizer in it, and the fertilizer contained algae.

1:42Ben Meiselas:This was a really deranged Oval Office presser, and it follows Iran's lead negotiator, MB Ghalibov, describing what went down in these negotiations. And the way Ghalibov says what happened, he said that Donald Trump started posting those attacks against the Iran negotiators yesterday morning. Iran then left the negotiations that J.D. Vance and the United States negotiating team begged for Iran to come back. Iran said, we're not going to come back and they spoke with the Qatarian Pakistani negotiators. And then over an 80-minute period, extracted all of these concessions that we're now seeing that the United States give Iran today, including the lifting of the oil and petrochemical sanctions and the unfreezing of $12 billion.

2:31Ben Meiselas:Galibov is now in Muscat, Oman, to talk about how Iran and Oman are controlling the Strait of Hormuz and the tolls that they will be charging. That's what he talked about while he just gave an interview. Galiboff also talked about the unfreezing of$12 billion. The first$6 billion was unfrozen. Galiboff talks about how the agreements that were reached in the past 24 hours further advanced the MOU interest of Iran. And of course, you have this U.S. Treasury Department issuing the general license, waiving the key Iranian oil sanctions until August 21st. So Donald Trump was asked about this. And Donald Trump's response was that he seemed to not even know that these oil sanctions against Iran were lifted.

3:23Ben Meiselas:And he said, I'm going to have to find out exactly what we did. Here's what Trump said. Let's play it.

3:31Well, I'm going to have to find out exactly the status. If the sanctions go out, money is going to be put into this country. All that money is coming back in the form of purchases of food, which they desperately need. They have 91 million people. They can't feed them.

3:47Ben Meiselas:Then Donald Trump said, well, Iran has 91 million people that can't be fed. So they're gonna be using all of this money to buy American farm produce. Okay, I mean, are the farmers going to be, you're just defrauding them one more time? Here, play this clip. And the farmer purchases a food which they desperately need. They have 91 million people, they can't feed them. So the money that we lift is gonna go to our farmers, largely to our farmers. Can you ensure that the Iranians won't use profits from them? Then Donald Trump says, but let me be clear, Nobody wants to become the president of Iran.

4:23Ben Meiselas:What are you even talking about? Let's play this clip. The third level of leaders, you have to hear the conversations. Who wants to be president? I don't want it. Nobody wants to be president. And then we have to read that. And then Donald Trump says, but as long as Iran respects us, and I'm not saying fear, that would be inappropriate. If they respect us, then we will get along well. Here's what he says. Play this clip. Those mechanisms are, and are you in direct talks with us? Well, yeah, look, look, here's the thing. As long as they respect us, I don't wanna use the word fear because that's an inappropriate word, but as long as they respect us, we're not gonna have any trouble.

5:03We have total control of the straight. So the mechanism is - You know, we have a navy that had a blockade.

5:09Ben Meiselas:Then a reporter says, you know, Netanyahu says he's not leaving Lebanon, so how are you gonna deal with that? And Donald Trump's like, I'm a problem solver, I'll fix it all. Here's what he says, let's play it. Earlier today, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his forces are not leaving Lebanon. That is a sticking point in these conversations. He said it publicly in Israel. Well, we're going to take a look at it. Well, what would you do to make sure that he doesn't sabotage the deal? Well, I'm not going to tell you what I'm going to do, but get solved. I'm a problem solver. I get problem solved real fast, including with Bibi.

5:38Go ahead.

5:39Ben Meiselas:Then he goes on to talk about the reflecting pool. And he said that the reason that there was all this algae is because the vandals and Antifa put fertilizer in the water and that creates algae. I mean, truly, if you believe this, you are so deep in the... I mean, how do you, what are you talking about? They threw fertilizer and that creates algae? No, it's where the water comes from. Here, play this clip. They've all been fixed. We also fixed the reflecting pool. In fact, if you go over there right now it looks very good it's uh up they put somebody said fertilizer in the water if you put fertilizer in the water you get algae but somebody said they might have put fertilizer they did something to create the algae but that doesn't matter because that's been uh purified it's dead laying at the bottom they're taking it out they vacuum it out they vacuum it very carefully out and it'll be back to health pretty soon we're going to have to let the water out to fix the There's two little areas, very little areas where they were cut and we'll fix that, but it's not leaking or anything.

6:47It's got a base underneath.

6:49Ben Meiselas:And then Donald Trump wanted people in the room, I guess this presser was about quantum and Donald Trump had no clue what they were talking about, but he said, did you know my uncle? Because he always says like, my uncle was a professor at MIT. This is what he always says. Here, play this clip. And two days ago, we set a record most ever taken out of the streets. It's pent up, but it's a record. Did you know of my uncle at all? No, no. You didn't? No. Sorry. I don't. You missed a good bit. Would you like to - Berkeley and MIT. Well, but MIT's - Well, but MIT's - And then Donald Trump, for some reason, attacks AOC and says, AOC doesn't even know where Switzerland is or what was going on in Switzerland.

7:31Ben Meiselas:What are you even saying here? Let's play this clip. You know, but when I watch AOC, have no idea what a simple question, what happened when she was over in Switzerland, which probably never went there before, but she was, and then I watched somebody like JD or Marco. What a, I said, what a difference. What a difference, what a difference a brain makes. And then Donald Trump's like, have y 'all, have you heard of Sleepy Joe? Have you heard of Sleepy Joe? Play this clip. You ever hear of Sleepy Joe Biden? Do you ever hear of him? And then Donald Trump proceeds to fall asleep. I'll play you this clip.

8:09Ben Meiselas:I've been resting for more than a decade in quantum and back - And a reporter says, but aren't the contractors who did this work to blame? Like, didn't they make all of these representations? And Trump goes, nope, it was the vandals. It was Antifa. They took a knife and they did a 300-foot slit right through it with a box cutter. That's what went down. Okay, play this clip. I'm going to be a great president. Mr. President. Mr. President. Yes, sir. Mr. President. Are the contractors who did the initial work for the reflecting pool, are they to blame for the current condition? No, no. We have vandals.

8:42Ben Meiselas:Vandals. You know, we have a hundred and we have a, I think, two hundred ninety, three hundred foot slit right through it. Probably a box cutter or a knife of some kind. We had people lifting up the basic, some of the, it's not a lot of damage, but it's, we'll probably have to let the water out and refix it. They went in there with a knife. I was just told by the people over at Parks, they have five people are arrested and five people are under investigation right now. And it's the same thing. Reporters then said, are you gonna show photos? And he's like, I'll show it to you in court. I'll show it to you in court.

9:22Ben Meiselas:Then you had Chris Wright, the energy secretary, start to talk and Donald Trump was like, no one cares what you're saying, just shut up. Let's play this clip right here. Jim, all of you have actually. Chris Wright, please. Yes, thank you, Mr. President. So 120, 141 years ago, Albert Einstein, 121 years ago. Albert Einstein published a paper. Nobody cares. Good point. Good point. And usually they won't catch you. Published a paper on the photoelectric effect. And a reporter asks Donald Trump, you know, you pretty much said that we did this deal with Iran because we were about to go into a global economic depression.

10:04Ben Meiselas:So are you worried about that? What's what's going on there? And Donald Trump's like, that's such a stupid question that you're asking. Nuclear is worse than depression. That's all. But I don't want to be Herbert Hoover. Here's what he says. Let's play this clip. Well, nuclear weapon supersedes depression. Depression is real bad. Nuclear weapon will cause depression much more quickly. The way we're doing it, we have the opposite of a depression. We're doing really well. The numbers are incredible. The oil is at a level that nobody's ever seen before. Oil prices are way down. I think they're very comparable to what they were.

10:43Chris, I don't know, pretty comparable to what they were before we started.

10:47Ben Meiselas:they've returned most of the way back down. So if Iran does not abide by the MOU, are you still willing for strikes? What I didn't say it would cause a depression. I said it could cause a depression, right? And I said that I don't want to be Herbert Hoover. That's a president I don't want to be because he, you know, he was in charge during the Great Depression. And certainly a lot of bad things could happen. That would be one of the things. I don't think it would, but if it did, but if Iran doesn't live up to their agreement, or if they're not behaving, I will do what I have to do. Does that give them leverage, the Iranians' leverage over you?

11:32Oh, you're so... Leverage. You know, their Navy is gone. Their Air Force is gone.

11:41Ben Meiselas:And then Donald Trump starts to attack Italy. I'll show you this. And you know what? the people of the uk did not like it that he wasn't there starmer said no sarah said worse than no he said we'll be there as soon as you win i said we don't need you as soon as we win before i went in we called him he said oh wow we'll be there this was not winston churchill would you know that i can't tell you but somers said we'll be there right pete as soon as we win as soon as we win they're going to come and help us okay but you know what italy was very bad. Italy was very bad and other countries, Germany was very bad.

12:20Ben Meiselas:So we spent all of this money. Donald Trump then starts to attack NATO. I'll show you this clip right here. 600 billion a year, right? I would say that. I think the real number, think of that. The numbers that we spend are so crazy on NATO and they weren't there for us. So I say to Pete and I say to everybody else if we're spending all of this money hundreds just hundreds of millions of dollars to protect them from russia mostly okay so we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year you know the case could be made that we spent all of the money over the years before me i cut it i cut it back but listen we spent all of this money and then when we want to maybe have help on small stuff.

13:10This is a small time. This is not the big one. This is small potatoes. They say no, I'd rather not help. Stupid thing to say, because we can say that to them if we want, and we might.

13:25Ben Meiselas:And then Donald Trump goes back again to talk about how it was the vandals and the vandals did everything. And he's got proof, but I'll show you in court. Here's what he says. So they're going to spend 400 million. I spent 10. They were going to spend four years. I spent two months, maybe less. And I have a better product. Now, I can't help it if somebody goes in with a knife and starts hacking it up. And we also have pictures of it. You know, we have the right time. You'll see it. You'll see it in court. You'll see it in court. But all you have to do is call the Parks Department, call the Department of Interior.

14:06And I don't know if their lawyers will allow you to speak to them because, you know, you write fake news, but call the Interior Department. And I understand they've arrested five people and they have another five people that are under investigation.

14:22Ben Meiselas:Here's the bottom. There you have it, folks. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. And thank you, everybody, for watching.

14:32Ben Meiselas:You'll get daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski, ad-free episodes of our podcast, and more exclusive content only available at MidasPlus.com.

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From the publisher

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Donald Trump panicking after $12 billion was transferred to Iran in addition to all sanctions being removed.

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