By John Q. Hosedrinker 
During a Q&A session, Donald Trump responded to a question from CNN’s Kaitlan Collins about his pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao with a dismissive rant, claiming he didn’t know much about crypto. Zhao, who served four months in prison for violating anti-money laundering regulations, had lobbied for the pardon. Trump stated he pardoned Zhao based on recommendations and reiterated his lack of knowledge about the situation. Zhao denied any deal-making in exchange for the pardon.
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Trump melts down at CNN’s Kaitlan Collins over a simple question, and honestly, it’s not surprising. The headline alone paints a familiar picture: the former President, faced with a straightforward question, devolves into a series of evasions, deflections, and dismissals. The core of the issue stems from a query posed by Collins regarding Trump’s decision to pardon Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Now, a simple question shouldn’t trigger such a reaction, but with Trump, the situation became a classic display of his usual tactics.
He starts with the classic “I don’t know,” a go-to response whenever he’s caught off guard or doesn’t have a prepared answer. Then comes the denial, “I don’t believe I’ve ever met him,” as if personal acquaintance is the only basis for a pardon. He’s obviously trying to distance himself from the situation. And then, the ultimate excuse: “he was recommended by a lot of people.” Who are these “people”? What qualifications do they have? The details are conveniently vague. He relies on phrases like “I’ve been told” and “They say,” creating a shield of plausible deniability. It is a way to shift responsibility, so that he does not have to take accountability for his actions.
It’s tempting to think about what would happen if a reporter would have confronted him directly with the facts, exposing the flaws in his answers. But in reality, it probably wouldn’t change anything. He’d probably react the same way he would if someone asked him his kids’ names. This kind of behavior does call into question, his mental acuity, suggesting a tendency toward agitation and an inability to deal with complex questions.
The crux of the matter is that Trump, when faced with a question he doesn’t want to answer, defaults to a predictable routine. He deflects, attacks, and resorts to name-calling – classic Trump. The fact that the pardon involves someone who pled guilty to serious financial crimes is a glaring detail that he seemed keen to avoid addressing. When someone asks him about a detail that he does not want to acknowledge, he is a child throwing a temper tantrum.
He’s not melting down, because as everyone knows, he lives in a constant state of meltdown. The core issue is that this particular pardon raises some concerning questions. Zhao was convicted of failing to prevent criminals from using Binance to move money connected to drug trafficking and child abuse. This is a pretty significant issue that warranted some explanation from Trump. Instead, he hides behind vague responses and redirects attention.
His response is a masterclass in deflection. He doesn’t know the person. He’s just doing what “they” told him to do. He pardoned someone he knows nothing about. It’s a blatant display of arrogance and a total disregard for the gravity of the situation. This kind of behavior doesn’t inspire confidence. The press should be more direct, holding him accountable.
Kaitlan Collins, on the other hand, is known for being direct and not afraid to press the former president. She doesn’t back down and isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions. It’s no wonder he dislikes her. She is the opposite of someone who just praises him. She is someone that actually presses him.
The fact that Zhao, a Chinese-born Canadian, served only a short time in prison for the crimes is even more troubling. He pled guilty. However, Trump acts like the man is innocent. The fact that someone with the resources of Zhao, and the evidence against him, didn’t fight the charges should speak volumes. Yet, Trump doesn’t seem to care. He is handing out pardons based on who knows what.
It boils down to this: Trump’s response to Collins’ question about Zhao is a microcosm of his presidency. He evades, deflects, and relies on vague answers. It’s a pattern we’ve seen time and time again. When faced with a legitimate question that requires a real answer, he just melts down and resorts to familiar tactics. And this is not new, nor is it surprising.