Fox News co-host Jessica Tarlov recently disclosed that President Donald Trump personally arranged for her to receive a customized "Trump 2028" hat as a Christmas present. The revelation came during a sit-down interview on the MeidasTouch program with host Jack Cocchiarella, where Tarlov discussed her career and her forthcoming book, "I Disagree," set to be released on September 15. The gift and Tarlov's subsequent comments have ignited a public conversation regarding the nature of political interactions and the interpretation of gestures from prominent figures.
"For Christmas, for instance, he customized Trump 2028 hats for me, and you know said something like, ‘Thank you for your great support.’ And I get it that it’s funny for a cheap laugh. I happen to think that he will do everything in his power to be able to stick around as long as possible … So I’m not really interested in palling around or playing nice." — Jessica Tarlov, Fox News Co-Host
Tarlov, who serves as a rotating panelist on "The Five" and typically articulates the Democratic perspective in the program's daily debates, explained that the gift did not alter her critical views of President Trump. Her book's central premise revolves around navigating sharp political disagreements while preserving personal relationships, a balancing act she performs regularly on national television. However, during the interview, Tarlov drew a clear distinction when the discussion turned specifically to President Trump, rejecting the notion that any private interaction would soften her stance.
"When people say that about Trump, like ‘Oh, you’d be so charmed.’ I’m just not interested in it. I think it’s a lot safer, frankly, to stay away from it," Tarlov stated. She elaborated on the gift itself and the accompanying message, characterizing it as indicative of President Trump's persistent focus on a potential third term. "For Christmas, for instance, he customized Trump 2028 hats for me, and you know said something like, ‘Thank you for your great support.’ And I get it that it’s funny for a cheap laugh," Tarlov recounted. Her tone shifted as she explained her interpretation of the jest. "I happen to think that he will do everything in his power to be able to stick around as long as possible … So I’m not really interested in palling around or playing nice," she added.
The "Trump 2028" merchandise line is not a novel concept. President Trump's campaign store reportedly began selling these hats in 2025, transforming years of speculative third-term jokes into tangible products. Both legal scholars and President Trump himself have publicly acknowledged that the U.S. Constitution prohibits a president from serving more than two terms. Among President Trump's supporters, the hats often function as a playful jab and a symbolic gesture directed at opponents who react strongly to his recurring third-term allusions. Conversely, among his detractors, these same hats are often perceived as a more serious indicator of intentions.
Tarlov explicitly placed herself in the latter group, using a recent decision by another public figure to illustrate the difference between engaging with President Trump strategically versus socially. She referenced New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who met with President Trump at the White House on November 21, 2025, despite their divergent political affiliations. Tarlov noted that Mamdani's meeting was strategically motivated. "Now on the Mamdani choice to do it, he got himself billions of dollars of investment in New York — that is worth a photo op, especially when he wasn’t even smiling," Tarlov explained.
According to Tarlov, Mayor Mamdani's example demonstrated that a face-to-face meeting with President Trump does not necessarily require compromising one's political identity. "He [Mamdani] didn’t compromise his morals or go back on anything he had said about the president — even said it to his face," Tarlov asserted. When directly questioned about whether she could envision herself in a similar meeting, Tarlov admitted that her true feelings would likely be evident. "Maybe if I could go in and do that, but I would just look sour and sullen, and I’m not good at faking a smile, frankly," she confessed.
The interview occurred just weeks before the official launch of Tarlov's book. She has previously stated that "I Disagree" originated from a frequent question posed by fans and colleagues about how she manages her role on air. "So what is I DISAGREE about? It’s my answer to the question I get the most: How do you do it?" Tarlov wrote when she first announced the project. She further explained that the book focuses on strategies to "stay true to my values, find common ground where it’s available, and communicate across political and social divides," suggesting these principles apply to both personal interactions and national broadcasts. "Hopefully, we’ll be able to forge a path toward better politics and, crucially, better relationships," Tarlov concluded in her announcement.
The long-term political impact of President Trump's "2028" hat gift remains uncertain. However, the gift undeniably generated public attention, consistent with the pattern seen since the "2028" merchandise line was introduced. As of this report, President Trump's team has not issued any additional public statement regarding Tarlov's comments about the gift.
