In a revealing Oval Office interview with Reuters, President Donald Trump offered cautious commentary on Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi’s political prospects while addressing multiple international issues. The president characterized Pahlavi as “very nice” but expressed skepticism about his acceptance within Iran, stating, “I don’t know how he’d play within his own country” and emphasizing that the U.S. hadn’t reached the point of endorsing his leadership.
Trump acknowledged the possibility of Iran’s clerical government collapsing amid ongoing protests but noted that “any regime can fail” and described the situation as “an interesting period of time.” Pahlavi, the 65-year-old son of Iran’s last shah who has lived in exile since before the 1979 revolution, has emerged as a prominent voice within the fragmented Iranian opposition movement.
The president also turned his attention to Ukraine, identifying President Volodymyr Zelensky as the primary obstacle to resolving the four-year conflict with Russia. Trump asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “ready to make a deal” and placed responsibility on Zelensky to move negotiations forward.
Domestically, Trump dismissed concerns from Republican lawmakers about Justice Department investigations into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, stating simply that GOP legislators “should be loyal.” He similarly rejected criticism from JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon regarding potential inflation spikes resulting from Fed interference.
The president previewed his upcoming meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, noting they would “talk basics” during their first in-person meeting since Trump directed the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Trump praised acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, describing their recent conversation as “fascinating” and noting she’s “been very good to deal with.”
Despite lingering economic concerns among Americans, Trump emphasized his intention to promote U.S. economic strength at the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos, where he plans to highlight strong job numbers and economic performance. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the president would hold bilateral meetings with Swiss, Polish, and Egyptian leaders during the international gathering.