Financial Times columnist Ed Luce recounted an unusual phone conversation with U.S.President Donald Trump during an interview on The Mona Charen Show, describing the exchange as disjointed and difficult to end.According to Luce, the call took place around the early stages of a conflict involving Iran and was initiated at the request of his editor.

He said Trump had previously been friendly and responsive in earlier conversations, but this particular interaction felt different and increasingly repetitive after about 15 minutes.

Luce described the experience as “very strange” and compared its tone to “Alice in Wonderland,” noting that he eventually looked for a way to politely end the call, telling Trump he must be very busy.

During the conversation, Trump reportedly asked Luce questions about possible military and strategic decisions related to Iran, including references to oil and Kharg Island.Luce responded that he was not qualified to advise on such matters and attempted to steer the conversation back to journalism.He also suggested that it became apparent early in the conflict that Trump was seeking potential offramps or alternative options in the situation.

The discussion later referenced broader anecdotes shared by Mona Charen, who said Trump often seeks informal advice from people he encounters socially, including members of his golf club.Charen described him as someone who casually asks individuals for opinions on major geopolitical issues.

The report highlights the informal and at times unpredictable nature of the interaction as described by Luce, framing it as an anecdote rather than a formal political statement.