Former President Donald Trump is set to appear on Michael Cohen’s radio program Thursday, marking the first public conversation between the two men in eight years. Cohen, Trump’s former fixer and attorney, confirmed the interview will air on New York radio station 77 WABC at 6 p.m. ET, with the remainder of the discussion scheduled to air on his Sunday show, When You Know You Know.
Cohen described the interview as an opportunity to have a conversation that "would mirror the way the conversation would have been during our 15 years of friendship." He did not preview the discussion or confirm whether their relationship had been repaired after years of estrangement.
In a statement to CBS News, Cohen said, "This is the first public conversation between the president and myself in eight years. You know, there have been private conversations that have, of course, been reported. But this is the first public conversation."
Background and Context
Cohen served as Trump’s longtime personal attorney and "fixer" for over a decade, handling sensitive matters for the Trump Organization and the former president. Their relationship deteriorated in 2018 amid federal scrutiny of a $130,000 payment Cohen made to adult film star Stormy Daniels on Trump’s behalf before the 2016 election. Cohen pleaded guilty to financial and campaign finance crimes in 2018 and served more than a year in prison, including 13 months in federal custody.
During his 2018 plea hearing, Cohen stated he had arranged the hush-money payments at Trump’s direction, a claim Trump has denied. Cohen later became a vocal critic of Trump, testifying against him in civil and criminal trials in New York, which resulted in Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to the Daniels matter.
In recent months, Cohen has indicated a shift in his stance. In January, he wrote in his Substack newsletter that he "felt pressured and coerced" by prosecutors to testify against Trump. Cohen also told CNN in July that he and Trump had "buried the hatchet" after years of estrangement, describing their relationship as "cordial and growing."
Logistics and Format
The interview will be divided into two parts: the first segment will air Thursday at 6 p.m. ET on 77 WABC, with the remainder of the conversation scheduled for Cohen’s Sunday program, which airs from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Cohen did not disclose the topics to be discussed but emphasized that the conversation would reflect the tone of their past interactions.
Cohen has not directly addressed whether he considers Trump a friend or if he seeks to reconcile their relationship. When asked by Newsweek, he replied, "Why don't you listen to the show?"