1:06House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries addresses a news conference on Capitol Hill, December 12, 2025, in Washington, D.C.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Below is a rush transcript of "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" airing on Sunday, December 21, 2025, on ABC News. This document may not be in its final form, may be updated, and could contain minor transcription errors. For past show transcripts, please visit the "This Week" transcript archive.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHNATHAN KARL, ABC “THIS WEEK” CO-ANCHOR: It has been a tumultuous week for Donald Trump. We’ve witnessed a defensive prime-time address, the renaming of the Kennedy Center to the Trump Kennedy Center, a partial unveiling of the Epstein file, and military operations in both Syria and the Caribbean, all while Congress departs Washington without addressing escalating healthcare costs.
“THIS WEEK” begins right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: Will you allow this to occur or will you take action?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They will rise dramatically because it was never effective.
KARL: President Trump dismisses the notion of extending Obamacare tax credits, as millions of Americans prepare for soaring insurance premiums.
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): Enough with the excuses. No more postponements. No more ignoring the reality.
KARL: With a majority of Americans dissatisfied with the economic situation, the president becomes confrontational and shifts blame.
TRUMP: Eleven months ago, I inherited a disaster, and I’m rectifying it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anyone who viewed his speech last night witnessed an irate elderly man disconnected from the struggles of Americans.
KARL: This morning, I’ll have a one-on-one conversation with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Republican Senator Rand Paul.
Renamed?
TRUMP: I was taken aback. It was an honor.
KARL: Trump’s appointees affix his name to the memorial for President Kennedy. But is that legally permissible? Our roundtable will discuss the president’s latest efforts to Trump-ify (ph) Washington.
And —
What surprised you most about 2025 and President Trump?
CHARLAMAGE THA GOD: The disregard for the working class.
KARL: We sit down with influential radio host Charlamage Tha God to explore Trump’s initial year back in office and what the Democrats must do to regain power next year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: From ABC News, it’s “THIS WEEK.” Here is Jonathan Karl.
KARL: Good morning. Welcome to “THIS WEEK.”
President Trump is heading to Palm Beach for the holiday season following a particularly tumultuous week both domestically and internationally. Most recently, the U.S. Coast Guard seized another oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. This marks the second such vessel taken in the administration’s intensifying military campaign against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Back at home, the president aimed to assess his own position in both traditional and highly unconventional ways. He delivered an angry and defensive prime-time address, promoting his economic achievements in
Sourse: abcnews.go.com