On Sunday night,sex rituals of the ilumini videos Donald Trump sat down with Leslie Stahl for 60 Minutes,with the entire episode devoted to an interview with the president-elect, his first formal interview since winning the election on November 8.
SEE ALSO: Chilling moments from day one in Trump's AmericaThere's a lot to dig through in the entire interview and Stahl acquitted herself well, veering between easy, building questions and tough, probing queries, and the whole interview, embedded below, is worth watching.
There's so much to parse here: Trump wiggling around admitting regret for how nasty the campaign was; questions of a special prosecutor for Hillary Clinton; his infamous immigration stance; at least two declarations that he "easily" won the election (despite the fact he lost the popular vote); and the news that his daughter Ivanka will nothave a role in his White House administration.
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But there were some surprises, too, and we've pulled out those five moments for a quick glance at the future of America.
"Don't be afraid."
One of the hotter topics in the post-election world are the numerous protests that have broken out across the country in the wake of Trump's victory. Stahl asked Trump if he saw a need to go out and soothe the protesters and tell them, "don't be afraid."
Trump, in a defensive tone, responded, "I would tell them, 'don't be afraid,' absolutely... We are going to bring our country back, but certainly, don't be afraid."
Trump to protesters: "Don't be afraid." pic.twitter.com/2akG9tUrGH
— Mashable News (@MashableNews) November 14, 2016
It's the first conciliatory note Trump has struck toward opponents and is particularly surprising given his recent tweet about the protesters.
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"Stop it."
When the topic moved to a spate of acts of violence and abuse that have occurred in the wake of his election, Trump claimed ignorance to an incredulous Stahl, saying he was unaware of such acts (Donald Trump, Jr., would later say many of the claims were fabricated).
"I am very surprised to hear that. I hateto hear it," Trump said.
When Stahl asked Trump if he wanted to say anything to supporters who were perpetrating such acts, Trump said, "I would say don't do it, that's terrible. Because I'm going to bring this country together."
Later, he continued, "I am so saddened to hear that," before turning his eyes directly to the camera for emphasis and saying, "Stop it."
Trump to his supporters attacking and abusing minorities, women, opponents: "Stop it." pic.twitter.com/Op0xBxeVJk
— Mashable News (@MashableNews) November 14, 2016
"I’m going to do very restrained."
Stahl asked Trump about his social media usage, pointing out his tweet criticizing protesters sent Thursday night. Trump responded by promoting his social media brands, of course, and pulled the typical celebrity humblebrag of quoting the number of followers he has (a HYUGE 28 million) and heralding that as a great means of communication.
He also defended his right to respond to what he sees as wrongs against him, and then said, "I have a method that's very tough." When pressed by Stahl, Trump added, "I'm going to do very restrained, if I do it at all."
Trump on Tweeting in the White House: "I'll do very restrained" pic.twitter.com/qjouR9btn1
— Mashable News (@MashableNews) November 14, 2016
The interview was taped on Friday, November 11. Less than 48 hours later, Trump was already back to feuding with the New York Times.
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"Perhaps they'll have to go to another state" for abortions
The issue of abortion, particularly in relation to Supreme Court appointments and overturning Roe v. Wade, provided something of a stumble for an otherwise collected Trump during the interview.
Insisting he was pro-life (a departure from his stance several years ago) and that he'd nominate pro-life judges, Trump said, "If it ever were overturned, it'll go back to the states."
When Stahl pushed Trump, suggesting that some states would completely outlaw abortions, Trump simply responded, "Well, they'll perhaps have to go to another state."
Trump on 60 Minutes on over-turning Roe v Wade: it would go back to states, some women would have to travel other states to have an abortion pic.twitter.com/BR05pWmuhU
— Mashable News (@MashableNews) November 14, 2016
"We'll have to see what happens," Trump continued, acknowledging that any such ruling "has a long, long way to go."
"$1 White House salary"
It's not a Trump interview without a little bragging, but this one was a little startling. When pressed by Stahl if he'd accept the president's salary ($400,000), Trump claimed, as he did on the campaign trail, that he would be foregoing the salary.
"I think I have to, by law, take $1, so I'll take $1," Trump said, also claiming he had no idea what the salary was.
Trump says he'll take just $1 for his White House salary pic.twitter.com/S8y9wuhPxd
— Mashable News (@MashableNews) November 14, 2016