interview
Phoenix interpreter talks about his Trump faux pas
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When translating a speech by Donald Trump, the Phoenix interpreter slips out a very honest sentence. A conversation about wrong buttons, professional honor and villains.
Mr. Deja, when you translated a speech by Donald Trump on Monday, the following sentence was heard from you: “Tell me, how long do you want to stay with this shit?” How did the mistake happen?
I thought I had pressed the throat clearing button that muted me. In fact, I hit another button – without noticing it.
To person
Frank Deja has been working as an interpreter since 1987. The current slip-up is his first major faux pas, he says.
How did you feel when you realized your slip-up?
A few minutes later this part of my mission was over and then I went to the direction. There was a lot of excitement and I started to feel a little uneasy. At that moment I was very embarrassed. This is of course very unprofessional and simply shouldn’t happen.
When the interpreter’s hat string bursts and he asks the only right question… #Trump
(live via @phoenix_de) pic.twitter.com/NR8FSaJFym
— robert bongen (@robsonte) January 20, 2025
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How strenuous is it to translate a Donald Trump?
There are different gradations. I have absolutely no problem interpreting for people who have different opinions than me. Otherwise I could quit my job. I also interpret Donald Trump so that he comes across the way he speaks. I’m not trying to make him look ridiculous or make his voice sound funny. It is my professional honor to convey it to the German audience in the best possible way. But it is a bit more of a challenge to interpret things that I recognize and perceive as lies the moment I say them. Then I’m like an actor playing a villain.
Have you followed the reactions to your statement on social media?
I’m in the dinosaurian position of not being on any social media platforms. That’s why I only heard about all of this indirectly, because friends spoke to me and sent me messages. I’m very happy about that too. If I had been on any accounts today, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything else.
In fact, you are more likely to be celebrated than treated with hostility.
This is probably called a candy storm, as I learned today. Like a shitstorm only with a heart instead of an extended middle finger.
Source: Stern

I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.