Trump's Press Conference Was Just Weird

January 11, 2017

WRITER

Many Americans embrace the idea of a businessman --- not a politician --- as president of the United States. But can you imagine George Washington standing up at a press conference and talking about his holdings?

Co-host Pat Gray gave his best voice impression of America's first president.

"Martha and I have incredible holdings, as you know. We've got a massive business, as you know," Pat said jokingly. "Martha and I have been running this --- we own most of Virginia, as I think you know. My holdings, inflation adjusted, would be around a billion dollars. I'm the richest president there's ever been."

That's exactly what President-elect Trump did at a presser to address the unsubstantiated dossier on his connections to Russia, unethically published by BuzzFeed on Tuesday.

"You know, you're not the CEO of America. You don't run America," Glenn said.

Listen to this segment from The Glenn Beck Program:

Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it might contain errors:

GLENN: It does not fill me with confidence. It did not fill me with confidence.

JEFFY: Well, him running the business and the country didn't fill me. So I'm glad he's giving up one of them.

PAT: Yeah. Because there's no way you could do both.

JEFFY: No. Well, he said he could. He could.

PAT: He says he can. But...

GLENN: Also, you know, you're not the CEO of America. You don't run America. I could run both.

JEFFY: Yeah.

GLENN: The president doesn't run both. He doesn't run the country. That's the problem.

STU: Yeah. We need to stop thinking about it that way.

GLENN: Right. And if we as conservatives allow others to believe that's what happens, well, then this is -- I don't mean to use this -- I want to use this word the way it was used in the 1920s: That's fascism. That is a government helping companies run the company. They collude openly with privately held companies, and they go and say, "You guys -- we are going to go this way as a country, so you should develop as much as you can of these things." And they work together. That was the idea behind fascism. Fascism wasn't always a dirty word.

It was a CEO -- it was the country run as a company by a leader. That's not what we are.

PAT: Can you imagine George Washington standing up at a press conference and talking about his holdings?

Martha and I have incredible holdings, as you know. We've got a massive business, as you know. Martha and I have been running this -- we own most of Virginia, as I think you know. My holdings, inflation adjusted, would be around a billion dollars. I'm the richest president there's ever been.

I mean, it's just the weirdest thing to sit and listen to.

GLENN: No. No.

STU: And that is true. Weird.

PAT: And it's true. Washington was by far the richest president we've ever had.

GLENN: And by far, one of the most humble presidents we've ever had.

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: He would not be saying, "And I've got dealings in the slave trade from -- at all points of the compass, and it's a beautiful, beautiful -- my sons are going to be at the portico. It's beautiful. And we're going to be -- because I can. I could with the -- and expansion and the slaves."

PAT: And as you know --

GLENN: And it's wonderful.

PAT: -- I could be king if I wanted to. I've been offered that. And I've said no. I've said, no, I'm not going to be king. And don't bring that up to me again. But, as you know, I could be king if I wanted to.

GLENN: Look, they were putting together the Constitution, and they couldn't get it done, and so they came to me. And they said, "George." And I said -- I was there in my beautiful lobby of my house. It's more of a lobby than an entranceway.

PAT: It's more of a mansion, of course, than a house, an estate, if you will.

GLENN: It's beautiful. It's wonderful. My son -- my daughter was upstairs. And she's wonderful. She has some beautiful friends. And she was with us out on a vacation a few weeks ago. In fact, let me bring her up. She can talk -- she's beautiful. Here she is.

What the hell did you just say?

STU: Yeah.

GLENN: That's what he just did on that press conference. I don't know what the hell he -- I want to know what your stance is with Russia.

PAT: Yeah.

STU: Well, one question about Russia did say that he believes -- Donald Trump believes Russians were responsible for the hacking. That's a pretty big headline.

GLENN: That's a big headline.

PAT: Yeah, that is. Because that's the opposite of what he's been saying, right?

GLENN: Yes.

STU: Yeah. He says he thinks. So it doesn't mean he's sure. But he believes the -- the intelligence briefing, I guess, he received indicates that, yes, that is probably the source of these hacks. That is a big deal. And he has not talked about that at all.

GLENN: Nor will he again, probably.

STU: During our -- our interlude into the George Washington press conference, you have not missed anything from Donald Trump.

His attorney is still standing up there, I guess explaining all the conflict of interest laws and how he's getting around those and not bringing --

PAT: And nobody is asking about that. I don't know that we even care about that.

GLENN: We should.

PAT: I mean, we do. But that's not the current issue.

GLENN: Okay. If I said to you -- if it's to you, "Look, I'm not going to run -- Pat, I am going to completely focus -- I am going to completely focus on other things, and -- and my -- my son will be doing everything on my primary business that I've -- identify staked my entire life on and is my life fortune. My sons are going to do that. But I promise you for the next four to eight years, not a word." I've got a whole bucket coming his way. I mean, that's -- he's asking us to do the impossible. His -- and not because it's nefarious. His son comes to -- there's a crisis. Let's say the world goes into a crisis. And his -- his son is looking at their financial empire starting to crumble. You don't think the son goes to dad and says, "Dad, I got to have your help on this."

STU: It's ridiculous.

GLENN: It's ridiculous.

STU: Jared Kushner is a good example of this. It's his son-in-law. He's going to be named an official, senior adviser to the president of the United States.

And everyone is like, "Wow, we have to see what's going to go on with these nepotism laws." Because he would be affected by these things. He has to divest all of his interests. It's a big deal for Jared Kushner to go through this.

However, what -- you're telling me that you're going to enforce these laws. And then instead of him being a senior adviser, they're just going to talk about it around dinner. Like, they're going to call and text each other these things anyway. All of this is going to go on. It's better that we know.

GLENN: Didn't we learn this from Hillary Clinton? You just don't -- you use the HRC email, you don't use @state.

STU: Right. But there's nothing to prevent them from talking to each other. It's just that his title of senior adviser --

JEFFY: Right.

GLENN: Correct. All they're doing is circumventing the law.

STU: But it's a ridiculous standard.

GLENN: It's ridiculous. I know.

STU: Of course, he's going to talk to his son-in-law.

GLENN: I know. But isn't it the same that we just saw, just a different -- I mean, they were doing the same thing, they just said, oh, you know what, just don't use the server. Use this server, and we'll be okay.

Okay. So that's what they did to get around it. And everybody yawned. Now he's just saying to his son-in-law, you know what, we can't talk about it here. More soup, son.

And they're going to talk about it then.

STU: You're not going to prevent a person from talking to his family members about important things in their lives when they're trusted confidants.

GLENN: No. And especially a family that is business. That is their family relationship.

STU: And that's not being critical of Donald Trump.

GLENN: No.

STU: I mean, Jared Kushner, while a big Democrat and much more liberal than anybody probably in the audience, has been a trusted adviser of Trump throughout the entire process. And that's not going to be a huge surprise that they're together. He's a big businessman and well versed in his own right. And, of course, they're going to be together. But I don't know that I've ever seen anything like this in this press conference, however, where you're getting someone, essentially a spokesperson for the president of the United States. In the -- giving us an intermission.

GLENN: Yeah. Never seen it.

STU: We're getting an intermission of this, where she explains all of this.

GLENN: Yeah.

STU: It is kind of an interesting turn.

GLENN: It's also really interesting to me that this is where they're turning. And I guess, you know, they want to turn the news cycle.

But everybody wants to know about Russia. The big news out of this is, quite honestly, I think, that Donald Trump came out blaming the US spy agencies for planting this story about him.

That is remarkable. Because let's just take it at face value, that that's true. They were sending you a message.

STU: Yeah.

GLENN: Don't screw with us. It's not going to get better. If that were true and the spooks are evil spooks that are sitting behind their desk, and they're like, "We taught him a lesson," and he came out and he said, "That was very wrong, the spy agencies, you know, we're going to see how that shapes up," you don't think that that big evil spook that's in the movie isn't going, "That rat bastard. Now it's war!"

I mean, that's crazy. It's crazy. Some battles you fight behind the curtain.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is Gen Z’s anger over housing driving them toward socialism?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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