Former President Donald Trump has a reputation for catching reporters off guard — and this week, I became the latest example.

Late Monday evening, my phone rang unexpectedly. After five days of waiting in anticipation for a possible interview to mark the anniversary of the assassination attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania, I had just about given up. I was napping after weeks on the road when the White House finally called.

Half-asleep, I picked up the phone. On the other end was Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: “Hi Gary, I’m here with the president, here you go.”

In a scramble, I rushed to grab my recorder. The line briefly dropped, and my heart sank — but they dialed back, and for the next 20 minutes, I spoke directly with Donald Trump. We covered everything from that harrowing night in Butler to his views on NATO, Vladimir Putin, immigration policy, and even his respect for Britain’s new prime minister.

Here are the five main takeaways from our unexpected conversation:

1. A Rare Moment of Vulnerability

Trump was reflective when discussing the attempt on his life in Butler. He didn’t dwell long on it, admitting he preferred not to.

“I don’t like dwelling on it because if I did, it might be life-changing,” he said, before adding that he believes in “the power of positive thinking — or positive non-thinking.”

This more introspective tone isn’t one we often hear from him. When asked if the experience had changed him, he paused — significantly. The same happened when I asked if he trusted Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I trust almost nobody, to be honest with you,” he finally said.

2. Vague on Deportation Numbers

On domestic policy, Trump stood firm on his immigration agenda. He claimed success in curbing illegal border crossings but avoided giving any figures when pressed about his target for deportations.

“I don’t put a number on it, but I want to get the criminals out quickly — and we’re doing that,” he said, pointing to deportations to El Salvador and other countries. Some within his team are reportedly frustrated by the slow pace, but Trump appeared unconcerned.

3. Putin: Disappointed, But Not Finished

Trump expressed growing frustration with Vladimir Putin, especially regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. He warned that secondary sanctions on Russia’s economy were on the table if a deal isn’t reached within 50 days.

“I thought we had a deal four times,” Trump said, “and then you get home and hear they just attacked a nursing home in Kyiv. I said: What the hell was that?”

When asked whether he’s done with Putin, Trump replied: “I’m not done with him, but I’m disappointed in him.”

4. A New Tone on NATO

Once a harsh critic of NATO, calling it “obsolete,” Trump now appears to have shifted his stance.

Fresh from a meeting with new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump sounded upbeat: “We changed NATO a lot,” he said, praising member nations for stepping up their defense spending. He noted the U.S. no longer shoulders nearly the entire financial burden: “Now they’re paying their own bills and I think that’s much better.”

He also highlighted the U.S. sale of weapons to NATO, which will be transferred to Ukraine.

5. Praise for the UK and Its Prime Minister

Trump voiced admiration for the UK and its new leader, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Despite ideological differences, Trump said, “I really like the prime minister a lot — even though he’s a liberal.”

He reiterated the strength of the US-UK alliance and predicted Britain would stand by the U.S. in any conflict. Regarding his upcoming UK state visit — which won’t include a speech to Parliament — Trump was unfazed: “Let them go and have a good time,” he joked.

He also spoke warmly about King Charles, calling him “a great gentleman,” and playfully remarked on the UK’s many names: “You’ve got more names than any other country in history, I think.”