Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
“Let’s call it quits. Because I’ve had enough. Thank you, darling.”
With those words, US President Donald Trump walked out of a tense interview with NBC News after a heated argument over 2020 presidential election fraud allegations and repeated requests for evidence from moderator Kristen Welker.
It unfolded during an interview for Meet the Press, where Trump defended his allegations that US elections have been rigged. The discussion became increasingly fiery as Kristen Welker repeatedly asked the US President to provide evidence for his claims about the election and ongoing vote counting in California.
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Trump took off his microphone and walked out after ranting about the media.
FIERY DEBATE ERUPTS OVER 2020 ELECTION FRAUD
The confrontation began after detailed remarks about the status of negotiations to end the war with Iran. Kristen Welker then asked about his 1.8 billion proposed anti-weaponisation initiative, which was intended to compensate people who believed they had been unfairly targeted by the previous administration.
While discussing the issue, Trump lashed out at former President Joe Biden and the media.
“The weaponisation fund was going to set up a group of people, people that could be picked by anybody, fair people, smart people, and they will go on an individual case basis,” Trump said.
“Now I don’t know what’s going to happen with the weaponisation fund. I love the idea because people like you — the fake dirty press, the crooked press, people like stupid Biden, he’s not smart enough to know what’s going on — but people that surrounded him, surrounded his beautiful resolute desk in the Oval Office, what they did to the lives of people, they destroyed people. They sent people to jail who did nothing wrong,” he said.
In response, Welker pointed out that there was no evidence supporting some of his allegations.
Trump fired with a furious rebuttal.
“Listen to me: There’s tremendous evidence,” Trump said. “There’s nothing but evidence. The election was rigged. It was a dirty election, and it’s happening again right now in California.”
The US President claimed that delays in counting ballots in California were evidence that something was wrong with the process. Several races in the state remained undecided days after voting concluded.
Welker argued that California allows ballots mailed by election day to arrive later and still be counted, a practice that often extends the counting period.
Trump rejected that explanation.
“You know why they’re doing that? Because they’re cheating on the election,” he said.
When she asked whether he had proof, Trump replied: “All I have to do is look. All I have to do is look and I listen, and I listen to people and let’s see what happens.”
TENSION BUILDS THROUGHOUT INTERVIEW
As the exchange continued, both repeatedly returned to the same question: whether evidence existed to support Trump’s allegations.
The US President challenged her on whether she believed California’s election procedures were appropriate.
“Do you think it’s appropriate that they have an election and give days later they’re nowhere close to picking a winner?” Trump asked.
Welker responded by stating that election officials have admitted the slow pace of the counting process.
Trump then turned his criticism toward the media.
“No, they’re crooked. They’re crooked, just like you’re crooked. Your press is crooked and Meet the Press is crooked,” he said.
Welker attempted to respond, saying: “To be fair, I’m not crooked, but let’s…”
Trump cut in before she could finish.
“Really? Well, you play right into their hands then. You’re either crooked or you’re stupid,” he replied.
INTERVIEW ENDS ABRUPTLY
The discussion continued for several more minutes, with Trump accusing major television networks of unfair coverage and election-related bias.
At one point, he compared the US to a “third-world country” when discussing election administration.
“Your elections are crooked and you’re crooked and Meet the Press is crooked, and so is ABC and CBS and CNN,” Trump said. “You’re one-sided crooked networks.”
Moments later, Trump said he was done with the interview.
“Let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough. Thank you, darling,” he said while removing his microphone.
Welker urged him to stay and continue the interview, saying that she had travelled to Wisconsin for the interview.
In response, Trump said he had already spent considerable time answering questions.
“I’ve given you enough time. You ought to straighten out your press because you know what, a country can never be great with a dishonest press.”
He then stood up and left, bringing the interview to an abrupt end.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
