Dan Bongino pointed to a resurfaced video from the 1980s featuring President Donald Trump and journalist Barbara Walters, arguing that Trump’s views on Iran have remained consistent over several decades.

Bongino introduced the footage by describing it as an example of Trump expressing similar positions on Iran long before entering politics.

He said the video shows Trump discussing U.S. policy toward Iran and what he viewed as economic and strategic concerns at the time.

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“Here is a video from the 1980s Donald Trump. Barbara Walters, Donald Trump, in the beginning, giving a speech saying the exact same thing about Iran. It’s not my fault. You guys don’t know about this stuff, and want to, you know, propel forward these bullsh*t theories about Donald Trump being hijacked by some like enemy foreign state. Check this out,” Bongino said.

The video clip begins with Trump addressing concerns about the United States’ position internationally and what he described as the country being taken advantage of.

“I’m here because I’m personally tired of seeing this great country of ours being ripped off,” Trump said.

Walters, narrating and questioning Trump during the exchange, framed his position by noting that his criticism extended beyond U.S. allies and focused on Iran.

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“But as far as Trump is concerned, our allies are only part of the problem. The real culprit is Iran,” Walters said.

Trump then outlined his views on potential responses to actions by Iran, raising the idea of targeting oil resources as a means of addressing perceived losses.

“Why couldn’t we go in and take over some of their oil, which is along the sea,” Trump said.

Walters pressed him on how such a strategy would be carried out and whether it would involve military action.

“How would you do that? Would you send in the Marines? Would you take a chance in a war?” Walters asked.

Trump responded by emphasizing the role of strength in avoiding conflict.

“Let them have Iran. You take their oil, that’s what I…” Trump said.

Walters continued to question the approach and its implications.

“How? I mean, do we want a war? What do you mean we take their oil?” Walters asked.

Trump argued that inaction or perceived weakness could lead to conflict.

“You go in, you’re going to have a war by being weak,” Trump said.

Walters followed up with additional questions about how such a strategy would unfold.

“Okay. How do we go in? What do we do?” Walters said.

Trump responded by suggesting that conflict in the region was likely regardless of the approach taken.

“Excuse me, you’re going to have a war, and it’s going to start in the Middle East,” Trump said.

Walters also raised concerns about the potential reaction from other global powers.

“What if the Soviet Union said, you do this to Iran, we’re going to come in?” Walters asked.

Trump dismissed that possibility and reiterated his proposed course of action.

“I don’t believe they do it. The next time Iran attacks this country, go in and grab one of their big oil installations and I mean, grab it and keep it and get back your losses, because this country has lost plenty because of Iran,” Trump said.

Following the clip, Bongino argued that Trump’s comments from the 1980s reflect a consistent approach to Iran over time.

“Folks. He’s been saying the same thing since the 80s. Just listen to him. You don’t have to listen to me,” Bongino said.

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