Watch the powerful moment Cohen stared directly into the camera and slammed Trump

Dramatic moments meant to hit Trump directly where he lives: in front of the television.
 By 
Marcus Gilmer
 on 
Watch the powerful moment Cohen stared directly into the camera and slammed Trump
Michael Cohen wasn't scared to look directly at Trump through the camera. Credit: Getty Images

The testimony from Trump's former personal attorney and fixer Michael Cohen in front of the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday morning has been explosive, but one thing has left a lasting impression.

At least twice during his opening statement, Cohen stared directly into the camera to address Trump directly. The first time, Cohen gazed into the camera and stated, dramatically, "I am no longer your fixer, Mr. Trump."

Later, in speaking to Trump's treatment of John McCain's POW status during the Vietnam War and Trump's own deferment of service, Cohen questioned the veracity of Trump's claim. Trump has claimed he was unfit to serve due to bone spurs.

"And I find it ironic, Mr. President," Cohen said, "that you are in Vietnam right now."

Cohen was, of course, referring to Trump's current trip to Vietnam to meet with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Cohen's dig has some extra mustard considering Trump tweeted an insult overnight aimed at the Vietnam service time of Sen. Dick Blumenthal

The moments were perfect for multiple reasons. One, Trump loves the cameras and Cohen seems to relish the spotlight, too, making it the perfect way for the two to trade shade. Second, given Trump's media diet, there's a very good chance Trump was watching at the testimony at his hotel in Vietnam.

Cohen's glare didn't go unnoticed by Twitter, either.

There's plenty more to come from Cohen's testimony and there will surely be more words exchanged between the two parties, but there's no denying the stone cold power move that Cohen played, making it clear to Trump that he's not going to back down.

Mashable Image
Marcus Gilmer

Marcus Gilmer is Mashable's Assistant Real-Times News Editor on the West Coast, reporting on breaking news from his location in San Francisco. An Alabama native, Marcus earned his BA from Birmingham-Southern College and his MFA in Communications from the University of New Orleans. Marcus has previously worked for Chicagoist, The A.V. Club, the Chicago Sun-Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You

CES 2026: Meet RocX, the handheld camera with AI tracking at 50x zoom
RocX at CES Unveiled

Claude apps: How Anthropic will integrate Slack, Canva, and more
Claude using Asana to manage tasks

Snapchat is testing creator subscriptions, giving top creators a new direct revenue stream
the Snapchat logo is seen displayed on a smartphone screen


Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!