Sycophancy in Stereo: Michael Cohen's Shift from Trump Critic to Deferential Interviewee

Michael Cohen, once a vocal critic of Donald Trump, referring to him with terms like "racist," "conman," and "cheat," has recently adopted a remarkably deferential tone in a radio interview. Instead of the harsh accusations he previously leveled in his testimony to Congress, Cohen addressed Trump as "boss" and "sir," a stark contrast that evoked memories of their past relationship.

This dramatic change in demeanor is noteworthy, especially considering Cohen's past public statements. He had previously accused Trump of courting white supremacists and orchestrating a $130,000 hush-money payment. Trump, in response, had branded Cohen a "rat," indicating a palpable animosity between them.

The interview, described as "deferential, fawning, oleaginous and sycophantic," saw Cohen seemingly roll out the red carpet for Trump, allowing the president's statements to go unchallenged. This behavior mirrors that of other prominent figures who have publicly criticized Trump only to later reconcile with him, often driven by motives of power or wealth. For Cohen, however, the motivation might be more complex, potentially linked to his application for a presidential pardon after serving prison time for his role in covering up Trump's "dirty deeds."

Cohen also appeared to relish the attention, drawing parallels between his and Trump's experiences with the Department of Justice, suggesting they were among the most "weaponized" individuals in recent history. Trump, in turn, seemed to appreciate Cohen's apparent recantation of his previous statements, calling it a "very big thing."

However, the article points out that Cohen hasn't necessarily recanted all his criticisms, speaking of forgiveness without amnesia. He sidestepped Trump's comments about the "weaponization," reminisced about past interactions, and expressed frustration with media coverage of Trump's approval ratings.

Throughout the interview, Trump reiterated familiar claims, including the progress of the war in Iran and his perceived credit for fixing the border. Cohen, in a display of nostalgia, recalled his past role in analyzing polls for Trump, only for Trump to dismiss current polls as "crooked," a sentiment Cohen readily agreed with. Trump also extended his criticism to reporters and the New York Times, while asserting the economy was booming.

The interview concluded with Cohen quoting the 1978 song "Reunited," suggesting a reconciliation. However, a contrasting perspective was offered by a legal analyst, who likened the reunion to that of Julius Caesar and Brutus, implying a potentially ominous undertone to their renewed association.

English Translation:

"Our next guest is a 'racist,' a 'conman,' and a 'cheat' – someone who behaves more like a 'mobster' than a president. Please welcome Donald J Trump!"

This is how Michael Cohen could have introduced Trump on his New York radio show on Thursday. After all, Cohen used such terms to describe the US president in his testimony to Congress in 2019. But now Trump’s former personal lawyer and self-described fixer had different words: "boss" and "sir." Just like old times.

Yes, the same Michael Cohen who claimed that Trump courted white supremacists and bigots and who arranged a $130,000 hush-money payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels on his behalf. Trump, in turn, branded Cohen a “rat.” The mutual hatred was palpable.

Yet here we were with the Untruth and Reconciliation Commission on 77 WABC radio. Cohen delivered one of the most deferential, fawning, oleaginous and sycophantic interviews in modern broadcasting history. He rolled out the metaphorical red carpet for Trump. He made appreciative noises in all the right places. He allowed the president’s lies to go unchallenged.

Cohen is hardly the first Trump hater to lose their nerve. Steve Bannon, Ted Cruz, Ron DeSantis, Lindsey Graham, Kevin McCarthy, Elon Musk, Marco Rubio and JD Vance have all denounced him only to come crawling back. The motive is usually power or wealth. Cohen’s might be different. The man who served prison time for his role in what he said was covering up Trump’s “dirty deeds” has submitted an application for a pardon.

He also loves the attention. In a long pre-interview hype, demonstrating no spine, moral consistency or humility, he told listeners: “There may be no two people on this planet that have had the justice department weaponised against them more than Trump and I. There has not been two people maybe that have been put against one another maybe, I don’t know, since Andrew Jackson and [Aaron] Burr?

“I mean, the only difference is there was no hot lead in this one; there’s only incarceration.”

Once Trump finally got going, he seemed to agree, but took it further, telling Cohen: “They weaponised you, they weaponised a lot of people, and I respect the fact that you recanted everything you said. And that’s a big thing that you did. It’s a very big thing.”

Point of order: Cohen hasn’t necessarily recanted everything he said about Trump. He has spoken of the forgiveness that does not require amnesia. He swerved past Trump’s comment, reminisced about the time “you gave me one of those traditional Trump slaps on the shoulder” and griped about the TV networks’ obsession with the president’s approval rating.

Trump, for his part, embarked on familiar and dubious claims about the war going well in Iran. Cohen wondered why people aren’t more grateful and, disconcertingly, kept calling him “sir.” Trump referred to a recent rally he held on Long Island. “I saw it!” gushed Cohen. Trump grumbled about the border and how no one gives him enough credit for fixing it.

“Boss,” said Cohen, wallowing in nostalgia. “You remember when I was by your side, I literally used to analyse the polls and you remember how much attention that I used to pay to that methodology? I would come in, I would say to you, oh, they’re claiming that you’re 31%, that you are under water, but I showed you that, that the sit – ”

“The polls are crooked!” interjected Trump.

“Exactly,” Cohen concurred.

“The reporters, as you know, are crooked – many of them,” Trump continued, before hitting his old punchbag, the New York Times, and insisting the economy is roaring.

When the interview was done, breaking absolutely no news whatsoever, Cohen quoted Reunited, a song by Peaches & Herb from 1978: “Reunited and it feels so good!” Perhaps he truly believed that the Lennon and McCartney of US politics had put the band back together.

But over on CNN, Stacy Schneider, a criminal defence lawyer and former contestant on The Apprentice, had a different take. “This is like the reunion of Julius Caesar and Brutus,” she said.