President Donald Trump reportedly questioned the reasoning behind the Civil War, a conflict between Northern and Southern states that left over 1 million Americans dead or wounded, during an interview expected for release on Monday according to The Hill.
"People don't realize, the Civil War, if you think about it, why? People don't ask that question, but why was there the Civil War? Why could that one not have been worked out?" President Trump asked. "I mean had Andrew Jackson been a little bit later you wouldn't have had the Civil War. He was a very tough person, but he had a big heart."
President Trump said that Jackson had insight into the people and understood the mood of the country, both North and South. "He was really angry that he saw what was happening with regard to the Civil War, he said 'There's no reason for this,'" he said.
"Had Andrew Jackson been a little bit later, you wouldn’t have had the Civil War" @realDonaldTrump told @SalenaZito. Full intv at 2pE, Ch124 pic.twitter.com/d7PuRRm7Md
— SiriusXMPolitics (@SXMPolitics) May 1, 2017
During the interview, President Trump also reminded the audience of his likeness to Jackson, someone he says defied the arrogant elite.
“Andrew Jackson was a military hero and genius and a beloved president, but he was also a flawed and imperfect man, the product of his time,” President Trump said during the brief speech at Andrew Jackson's Tennessee home back in March. “It was during the revolution that Jackson first confronted and defied an arrogant elite. Does that sound familiar to you?” he joked with the crowd.
“Oh, I know the feeling Andrew,” he said.
The full interview will air Monday on SiriusXM P.O.T.U.S.’s “Main Street Meets the Beltway.”