Michael Cohen Refuses to Repeat His 2019 ‘Racist,’ ‘Con Man’ Claims About Trump

Michael Cohen refused on live television to repeat his past claim that President Trump is a “racist” and a “con man,” marking a sharp break from his 2019 stance.

Story Snapshot

Cohen declined to restate his 2019 labels about Trump when pressed on CNN, saying he would not do it.
In 2019, Cohen told Congress that Trump was “a racist,” “a con man,” and “a cheat”.
Trump and allies have long denied Cohen’s accusations, calling him untruthful; Trump has said he “lied a lot”.
Recent coverage suggests Trump believes Cohen has “recanted,” though Cohen’s exact position now remains narrow and careful.

What Cohen Said Then Versus Now

Michael Cohen told Congress in 2019 that President Trump was “a racist,” “a con man,” and “a cheat,” placing those words on the record in sworn testimony. He later repeated the theme in his 2020 book, which cast Trump in similar terms. On CNN in August 2026, anchor Jake Tapper asked Cohen if he still believed those labels. Cohen refused to repeat them, saying, “I refuse to do that. I will not do that”. That shift is the core of this week’s debate.

Trump and his allies have pushed back on Cohen’s claims for years. In 2019, Trump said Cohen was “incorrect” and that he “lied a lot,” a view echoed by White House statements during the book rollout. This summer, Trump and Cohen had a widely covered media reunion. During that exchange, Trump praised Cohen for having “recanted everything you said,” a line that many outlets highlighted. Whether Cohen actually recanted, or simply declined to repeat labels, remains the key point.

Why This Refusal Matters Now

Television moments like this often become tests of credibility. Cohen’s refusal does not erase his 2019 testimony, but it changes how people hear it. Viewers on the right may see this as proof that old attacks were political theater. Viewers on the left may see legal caution or fatigue with endless fights. The facts show two things at once: the labels are in the record, and Cohen chose not to restate them on air this week.

For many Americans, this feeds a deeper frustration with politics. The country faces rising costs, border strain, and distrust in institutions. Yet media cycles return to character fights and loyalty dramas. That pattern helps the powerful by keeping focus on personalities instead of policy results. People who think Washington serves elites, not families, see another reminder that spectacle often wins over solutions.

What We Know, What We Do Not

We know the 2019 testimony exists, in full, and used direct language about Trump’s character. We know Cohen’s book pressed the same theme two years later. We know CNN pressed Cohen in 2026, and he refused to repeat the labels on air. We do not have, in this set, a full network transcript or full video to confirm every word and tone across the segment, which limits complete context for his refusal.

1 AM Top-of-the-Hour News

President Trump appeared yesterday on his former fixer-turned-foe Michael Cohen’s radio show on affiliate station WABC radio in New York … holding a stunning public reunion with the man who once called him a “Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain” and… pic.twitter.com/e2kTqhQoGn

— Worldwide News Network (@WorldwideNNX) August 21, 2026

We also know Trump has long denied being racist, including after a 2018 controversy where he said he was “the least racist person” a reporter had interviewed. None of this settles the truth of broad labels. It does show the incentives. Cohen may avoid legal risk or reframe his role. Trump may claim vindication. Voters see more theater. The bigger challenge remains: demand receipts, reward proof, and press leaders—of both parties—for results, not just lines.