Michael Cohen just revealed the surprising new status of his relationship with Donald Trump after years of bitter public feuding. The former personal lawyer discussed their unexpected reconciliation and what it means for his legal future.
Michael Cohen discusses his renewed relationship with Donald Trump
CNN reports that Michael Cohen describes his relationship with Donald Trump as “being resuscitated.” The former personal lawyer and the president spoke for 40 minutes in a taped interview. Cohen’s WABC radio program aired a portion on Thursday, with the full conversation airing Sunday.
Trump told Cohen during the interview that “they weaponized you like nobody’s ever been weaponized.” He added, “I respect the fact you recanted, everything you said.” The exchange marked their first open conversation since their falling out over eight years ago.
Cohen addressed the reconciliation during an appearance on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper. He stated, “The answer is that we forgave.” He then added, “Forgiveness does not require amnesia. It requires the courage to stop allowing yesterday to dictate tomorrow.”
Cohen pleaded guilty to eight criminal counts in Manhattan federal court on August 21, 2018. He implicated Trump in a payment scheme designed to silence women before the 2016 election. Cohen later served as the star witness in Trump’s New York criminal trial.
Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in 2024. The charges related to hush money payments to adult film performer Stormy Daniels. Trump denied the affair, received no jail time, and has appealed the conviction.
A quiet reconciliation began after someone Cohen called a “White House friend and an insider” texted him. That person “expressed to me the president’s genuine empathy for the hell that I was being dragged through,” Cohen said. The two men have since met privately at Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Cohen has also submitted a pardon application to the administration. However, a White House official said the clemency review team “is not tracking this request at this time.”
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
