Chuck Todd confronted Donald Trump on the air about all his lies during a Sunday interview.
Chuck Todd, the host of NBC‘s “Meet the Press,” confronted Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump about all his lies during a Sunday interview.
Todd began with a clip of Trump claiming that he saw “thousands and thousands of people” cheering in New Jersey as the Twin Towers fell after the September 11, 2001.
Previewing Sunday morning’s episode, Todd told his viewing audience: “we begin with a question that has confounded the political class for months. Can anything stop Donald Trump, even the truth?” adding that: “Hillary Clinton, Ben Carson, Chris Christie all have been called out for what Stephen Colbert once dubbed as ‘truthiness.’ But no one has had more controversial statements questioned than the man who will join us in just a moment, Donald Trump.”
Todd began the interview asking Trump:
Let me ask you about these claims this way. You demand and you’ve demanded of me pinpoint accuracy when I report on things about you, including, for instance, your net worth. Why shouldn’t we demand the same pinpoint accuracy in the claims that you make? Isn’t it hypocritical of you calling us out if we’re not calling you out when you stray from the truth?
Trump attempted to dodge the question by going into a lengthy rant about how many refugees the Obama administration was attempting to let into the country and by claiming that Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were dishonest about those figures.
Todd didn’t let up, asking a more specific question regarding Trump’s dishonest statements:
All right. Well, let’s back up here a minute. Let’s go to this Jersey City comment. You said you saw this. Nobody can find evidence of this. And, more importantly, the article that you tweeted out that’s backed you up, that in itself, there were three or four different reports that month in New Jersey that said it was a myth that was spread, that it was a false rumor. F.B.I., you name it. Where did you see this?
Trump responded that he was it on television, adding:
I’ve heard Jersey City. I’ve heard Patterson. It was 14 years ago. But I saw it on television. I saw clips. And so did many other people. And many people saw it in person. I’ve had hundreds of phone calls to the Trump Organization saying, “We saw it. It was dancing in the streets.” Now, by the way The Washington Post I tried to pull back, but the Washington Post reported tailgate parties and reports of tailgate parties.
Tailgate parties means, like, for a football game where you have hundreds and hundreds, and maybe even thousands, of people having tailgate parties. I saw it at the time. I stick by it. Hundreds of people have confirmed it.
Todd continued pressing telling Trump: “This didn’t happen in New Jersey. There were plenty of reports. And you’re feeding that stereotype.”
Trump responded: “Chuck, it did happen in New Jersey. I have hundreds of people that agree with me.”
Todd retorted: “But they want to agree with you that doesn’t make it true.”
Trump continued defending his claim, with Todd telling him: “Well just because somebody repeats something doesn’t make it true.”
After more back and forth conversation, Todd told Trump: “You’re running for president of the United States. Your words matter. Truthfulness matters. Fact-based stuff matters.”
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