Michael Cohen, the former Trump Organization lawyer and convicted felon, is preparing to interview President Donald Trump on his radio show Thursday. The exchange marks their first public conversation since their dramatic 2018 split, when Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and tax fraud, later testifying against Trump during his first impeachment inquiry.
Cohen refused to clarify whether he might use the interview to seek a presidential pardon. The question carries real weight. Trump has granted pardons to allies including Steve Bannon and has shown willingness to reward loyalty among former associates. Cohen served roughly three years in prison before his release, though he remains under home confinement as part of his sentence conditions.
The relationship between Trump and Cohen collapsed publicly after the FBI raided Cohen's office in 2018. Cohen eventually cooperated with federal investigators and Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia inquiry, then later testified before Congress about Trump's alleged involvement in hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. These actions transformed Cohen from Trump insider to Trump critic.
Thursday's radio interview signals a potential reconciliation. Cohen's willingness to host Trump, combined with the president's decision to accept the invitation, suggests both men see benefit in repairing their fractured relationship. Trump controls the pardon power, a leverage point that looms over any conversation between them.
The interview takes place against a backdrop of Trump's historical use of pardons for political allies. His administration previously granted clemency to figures like Paul Manafort and Roger Stone, both convicted in Mueller-related cases. Whether Trump views Cohen differently remains unclear.
Cohen's silence on the pardon question may itself be strategic. Explicitly requesting clemency could undermine his credibility on air, while staying silent allows Trump to consider the possibility without public pressure. The Thursday call will likely provide the clearest signal yet about whether these former allies genuinely reconcile or merely perform dét