Former President Donald Trump's ex-lawyer and self-described "fixer," Michael Cohen, had a very public falling-out with his old client in late 2018, when Cohen began cooperating with the FBI in its investigation of the Trump campaign.
Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for lying to Congress, evading taxes, and facilitating hush money to two women who claimed to have had an affair with Trump.
With his prison stint officially over, Cohen has continued to warn the public of Trump's corruption, much of which he witnessed first hand.
Trump remains the Republican favorite to win the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, but has yet to announce whether or not he actually intends to run.
In recent comments on Meet the Press, Cohen claimed Trump wouldn't be running at all.
Watch below.
WATCH: Michael Cohen calls former President Trump’s 2024 campaign rumors, “the greatest grift in U.S. history.”@MichaelCohen212: “If he loses, which he will, in 2024, what happens to the Big Lie? The Big Lie disappears. … There goes the big grift.” pic.twitter.com/ZSCyFSlS9F
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) November 28, 2021
Cohen told Meet the Press anchor Chuck Todd:
“Yeah, so this should become a documentary, and it should be called the greatest grift in U.S. history. ... So, one of the biggest problems for Donald Trump is that he makes a statement, right, that ‘I’m thinking about [running], I’m thinking about it.’ That’s only to keep the grift growing and to keep the grift going.
...
If he loses, and he will in 2024, what happens to the big lie? The big lie disappears. He can’t now be like the boy who cried wolf. ‘Oh, they stole it from me in 2020, they now stole it from me in 2024.’ Right? Now that goes out the door, and there goes his money, there goes the big grift. So, like I said before, it’s not going to happen. He’s going to run it — like he did in 2011 — right to the very, very last second.”
In earlier comments on CNN, Cohen also said Trump wouldn't run due to his "fragile ego," which couldn't bear the branding of a "two-time loser."
People were divided on Cohen's assessment.
Listen very carefully to Cohen. His predictions are 100% accurate.
Thank You @MichaelCohen212, it makes me feel good just hearing what you've got to say! https://t.co/6TajXW0cYL
— Mo.bare. Michael. sta.ve. m.j r.b c.p .Jhn (@Maxamdbar88888) November 28, 2021
But therein lies the rub. With MAGA-controlled state and local election officials and legislatures taking over the elections and with a GOP-controlled Congress, they will never let him “lose” regardless of the actual outcome of the election. They will find a way to hand it to him https://t.co/7tGOZ0TUJy
— Bryan Weiss (@weissbry18) November 28, 2021
He pulled over 60 million votes. He'll probably win. You should probably not continue to underestimate him.
— Captain Gork Ranger (@GorkRanger) November 28, 2021
just one reason trump won't run https://t.co/68iPLKFIcA
— c lewis silberman (@silbecl) November 28, 2021
I disagree with Michael Cohen on this one even though I hope he's correct. I think Trump will try to run in 2024. Surprisingly, he may not get the nod from the GOP and may have to form his own party. But I don't think he'll win. People want new faces. https://t.co/8ZeTZBgzQ5
— Gregorytrane46@gmail.com (@Gregorytrane461) November 29, 2021
I find that a bit naive, quite honestly. Why would Republican state legislatures all across the US introduce all of these new changes in election laws, which stood in Trump's way in 2020, if he didn't intend to run & literally STEAL that election in 2024?https://t.co/k2c4kQAcyE
— AquariusinAZ (@AquariusinAZ) November 23, 2021
Many have their own theories on Trump's participation in the 2024 election.
A disclaimer to start. We do not know if Trump is going to run. Everyone around Trump says he will, Jon Karl reported. But he's not so sure.
I'm not sure, either. Say he does not run. What are the chances of a Trumpified Republican Party and candidate in 2024? I would say high.
— Jay Rosen (@jayrosen_nyu) November 28, 2021
When we hear that Trump may not run in 2024, this wishful notion is part of a brilliantly disarming messaging strategy aimed at delaying preemptive actions. He will run and he will "win" because the election will be rigged. And then the hounds will be unleashed. Woe to us. https://t.co/pBu7Naf5uP
— David Picasso (@DavidPicasso4) November 27, 2021
If Trump sticks to his story that he won the 2020 election, then the Constitution says that he can't run in 2024. "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." Sad for him, but fantastic for America. #Trump #TrumpIsAnIdiot #TrumpisaNationalDisgrace
— Alan Grayson (@AlanGrayson) November 22, 2021
It's likely the former President will wait until after the 2022 midterms to announce—or rule out—his candidacy.
