Topline
Former President Donald Trump mentioned conspiracy theories and attacked his detractors in a pre-taped interview with former Fox Information commentator Tucker Carlson—one which was posted in opposition to the Republican presidential main debate that Trump didn’t attend.
Trump’s interview with Carlson was pre-recorded and was revealed a couple of minutes earlier than the beginning of … [+]
Key Details
The interview posted on X, previously generally known as Twitter, opened with Trump saying he determined to skip out on the Republican presidential debate as a result of he was main his opponents in polls and didn’t need to be “harassed” by individuals who “shouldn’t even be operating for president,” later title dropping candidates reminiscent of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, each vocal Trump critics.
Carlson then shortly shifted to conspiracy theories, asking the previous president in regards to the unsubstantiated concept that Jeffrey Epstein was murdered whereas in jail, although Trump stated he believed the late convicted intercourse offender dedicated suicide and later claimed “a case might be made” for Epstein’s assassination.
Carlson, noting Trump’s two impeachments and 4 indictments, stated the subsequent stage in opposition to Trump can be “violence” earlier than asking the previous president if he was nervous that individuals on the left would attempt to kill him.
Trump, who was requested the query twice by Carlson, didn’t reply the inquiries immediately, opting to make use of them as an opportunity to criticize folks on the left, query President Joe Biden’s well being and denounce the 4 indictments he faces as of August.
Carlson later requested Trump if the U.S. was heading towards “open battle,” to which Trump stated he didn’t know however added that there’s a degree of ardour and hatred he’s by no means seen within the nation and that each are “most likely a nasty mixture.”
Key Background
Carlson stated in an interview teaser posted to X on Wednesday that Trump’s crew approached him about establishing the counterprogramming to the primary Republican debate. Carlson claimed within the video that Trump, the “far-and-away frontrunner within the Republican race,” would have a bigger viewers on X than cable information. Final week, Trump laid into Fox Information on Fact Social, accusing the community of displaying unfavorable presidential polls and unflattering images. Trump’s polling numbers have managed to profit from information in regards to the 4 indictments he faces, with many Republicans believing the legal expenses are politically motivated. Trump’s most up-to-date expenses got here from a Georgia indictment alleging he and 18 others tried to overturn the outcomes of the 2020 presidential election. Mugshots of the co-defendants, which embrace Trump’s ex-lawyers, Rudy Guiliani and Sidney Powell, had been launched Wednesday. Greater than half of the defendants have agreed to the phrases of their launch. Trump has additionally agreed and stated he would flip himself in Thursday underneath a $200,000 bond settlement.
Chief Critic
In an announcement first supplied to the Hill, a spokesperson for President Joe Biden’s reelection marketing campaign referred to as Trump’s look on Carlson’s present a “softball ‘interview,’” that will see the previous president “double down on his most out-of-touch positions, together with his help for wild, debunked conspiracy theories and a nationwide abortion ban.”
Additional Studying
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