(ConservativeSense.com) – Donald Trump sat down with CNN for the first time since 2016 at a Town Hall event in New Hampshire. The former President has repeatedly referred to the liberal network as “fake news” and had endured a strained and tumultuous relationship with it throughout his Presidency. Trump sat down with host Kaitlin Collins and an audience of Republicans. He received a standing ovation when he walked on stage.
During the interview, he repeated his belief that the 2020 election was stolen. When asked about January 6th, 2021, President Trump said he called for calm immediately, but the relevant tweets were deleted from his account. He added that he would pardon most of the protestors on Capitol Hill that day.
On the guilty verdict finding him liable for an assault on author E. Jean Caroll, Trump repeated that he did not know her and that the case was part of a political witch hunt against him. Then, to applause, he said, “You cannot get a fair trial in Washington, DC, and you can’t get a fair trial in New York City either.” The former President is facing criminal charges in New York related to so-called hush money paid by his ex-attorney to an adult film star to silence her claims of an affair with Mr. Trump.
Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned CNN’s decision to interview Trump. She said choosing to platform him was “shameful” and “extremely irresponsible.”
President Biden posted a tweet soon after the interview asking Americans if they wanted four more years “of that.”
Trump’s controversial appearance provoked a harsh response from some GOP contenders for the party’s nomination. Chris Christie, the former Governor of New Jersey who has yet to declare his candidacy, called Trump “ridiculous.” Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said the interview was another example of Trump’s “indefensible” behavior.
President Trump remains the Republican frontrunner. He is leading his nearest competitor Ron DeSantis by around 20%.
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