WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) 鈥� President said Friday that he was 鈥渂eing a little bit sarcastic鈥� when he repeatedly claimed as a candidate that he would have the solved within 24 hours 鈥� and even before he even took office.
Trump was asked about the vow he repeatedly made on the campaign trail during an interview for the 鈥淔ull Measure鈥� television program as his administration is still trying to broker a solution 54 days into his second term.
鈥淲ell, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that," Trump said in a clip released ahead of the episode airing Sunday. 鈥淲hat I really mean is I鈥檇 like to get it settled and, I鈥檒l, I think, I think I鈥檒l be successful.鈥�
It was a rare admission from Trump, who has a long record of making exaggerated claims.
Trump said at a CNN town hall in May 2023, 鈥淭hey鈥檙e dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I鈥檒l have that done 鈥� I鈥檒l have that done in 24 hours.鈥�
鈥淭hat is a war that鈥檚 dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president,鈥� Trump said during his September debate with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. 鈥淚f I win, when I鈥檓 president-elect, and what I鈥檒l do is I鈥檒l speak to one, I鈥檒l speak to the other. I鈥檒l get them together.鈥�
The Republican repeated the claim frequently on the campaign trail.
His special envoy, , was in Moscow this week for talks on a U.S.-proposed , which Ukraine has accepted.
In the interview, Trump was also asked what the plan would be if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire to the war he started three years ago.
鈥淏ad news for this world because so many people are dying,鈥� Trump said.
But I think, I think he's going to agree. I really do. I think I know him pretty well and I think he's going to agree."
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Michelle L. Price, The Associated Press
