RTFri, 09 Sep 2016 15:38 UTC
Republican president candidate Donald Trump's interview with Larry King, which aired on RT America Thursday night, is
fueling the flames of growing US propaganda against Russia, even within his own campaign.Not only did the US media turn the conversation into another chance to
advance their conspiracy theories, but Trump's own campaign distanced itself from the Russian news channel following the backlash.
His press secretary Hope Hicks said in a statement that Trump "recorded a short interview with Larry King for his podcast as a favor to Mr. King. What Larry King does with the interview content is up to him. We have nothing to do with it."
The
Washington Post, owned by
Amazon CEO and Trump critic Jeff Bezos, waited until the fifth paragraph before getting into any detail about what was discussed in the interview, which included the GOP nominee's indictment of the "dishonesty of the media."
Like most US mainstream media outlets, the
Post instead concentrated on the fact that the interview was with Russia Today, "a state-owned Russian television network."
"Trump Does Interview with Kremlin RT" was the headline of an article by the
Daily Beast, painting the picture of Trump flying to Moscow and sitting down in Vladimir Putin's official residence for his interview.
The Daily Beast is owned by IAC, which pays Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of Trump's Democratic opponent,
$50,000 per year plus stock options to be on its board of directors.
The
Wall Street Journal, which is owned by another
Trump critic, Rupert Murdoch, described RT as the "Kremlin's propaganda tool" and "a television network controlled by the Russian government," again sidelining any mention of what was discussed until later in the story.
Members of Trump's own party have expressed concern at his Russian connections, including the billionaire's praise for Vladimir Putin, when he described him as a better leader than US president Barack Obama.
GOP Senator Lindsey Graham, who attended the Bilderberg conference as part of the pro-Clinton "Stop Trump" delegation, slammed the remarks by his party's candidate about the Russian leader, saying they "disturb me greatly."
House Speaker Paul Ryan would not condemn Trump's remarks, but did tell reporters that he believed Putin to be an "aggressor who does not share our interests."
Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence echoed Trump's opinion of Putin, telling
CNN on Thursday, "I think it's inarguable that Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader in his country than Barack Obama has been in this country. And that's going to change the day that Donald Trump becomes president."
On social media, the content of the interview, even Trump's mysterious dodging of the question on Mexican immigration, was also overshadowed by the 800lb Russian bear in the room, with many amazed that an international news organization is covering international news.
Comment: Highlights from the
show:
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump tells RT's Larry King that he doesn't dislike Hillary Clinton, but that she's not the person to make America great again - and that their televised duel Wednesday was more fun than baseball.
This is Trump's first appearance on
Politicking since
October 2013, when he first hinted at running for president. This time, the billionaire businessman discusses the current election, the hacking of the Democratic National Committee, his comments about the Iraq War, and Wednesday's showdown with Clinton at a veterans' forum.
Mainstream mediaOpening up the interview, King asked Trump: "What surprised you the most about running for office?"
Trump pointed to the media's "tremendous dishonesty."
"I mean, they'll take a statement that you make, which is perfect," Trump said, "and they'll cut it up and chop it up and shorten it or lengthen it, or do something with it, then all of a sudden, it doesn't look like as good as it did when you actually said it."
IraqOn the issue of defeating the Islamic State in Iraq, Trump slammed Clinton and President Barack Obama for their role in pulling US troops out of Iraq in 2013.
King then interjected: "The timetable was arranged by Bush for the leaving."
"Well, you know what, Larry," Trump countered, "I'll tell you what, let's look to the future."
King kept on the point, however, offering Trump the opportunity to criticize the Bush administration as well as Obama and Clinton.
"It's a war we shouldn't have been in, number one," Trump reiterated, "and it's a war that when we got out, we got out the wrong way. That's Obama."
Hillary ClintonAsked about Clinton, Trump told King, "The bottom line is, Larry, she doesn't have what it takes."
That, Trump clarified, did not necessarily mean he did not like her as a person.
"No, it's not about liking or disliking," the Republican nominee said. "I mean, I wish she did a phenomenal job, and we wouldn't have all these problems."
"I wouldn't be running," Trump continued. "I'd be having dinner with you some place maybe."
CampaigningKing then asked Trump whether or not he was looking forward to the upcoming debates against Clinton.
"Nothing in life is easy," Trump answered. "It's not going to be easy, but it is something I look forward to, absolutely."
The Republican candidate shrugged off speculation that Russia may be trying to influence the 2016 US election.
"It's probably unlikely," he told King. "Maybe the Democrats are putting that out, who knows?"
"I just want to make sure that the election is 100 percent fair," Trump said.
Mexican immigrationKing's final question was on immigration, specifically on Mexican immigration.
"Let's get something clear, because I've known you a long time. What are your feelings about Mexican immigrants? What in your gut do you feel about this?" King asked.
But Trump never answered, seemingly dropping off the line, despite King reassuring his audience that the phone connection was not lost.
Comment: Highlights from the show:
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump tells RT's Larry King that he doesn't dislike Hillary Clinton, but that she's not the person to make America great again - and that their televised duel Wednesday was more fun than baseball.
This is Trump's first appearance on Politicking since October 2013, when he first hinted at running for president. This time, the billionaire businessman discusses the current election, the hacking of the Democratic National Committee, his comments about the Iraq War, and Wednesday's showdown with Clinton at a veterans' forum.
Mainstream media
Opening up the interview, King asked Trump: "What surprised you the most about running for office?"
Trump pointed to the media's "tremendous dishonesty."
"I mean, they'll take a statement that you make, which is perfect," Trump said, "and they'll cut it up and chop it up and shorten it or lengthen it, or do something with it, then all of a sudden, it doesn't look like as good as it did when you actually said it."
Iraq
On the issue of defeating the Islamic State in Iraq, Trump slammed Clinton and President Barack Obama for their role in pulling US troops out of Iraq in 2013.
King then interjected: "The timetable was arranged by Bush for the leaving."
"Well, you know what, Larry," Trump countered, "I'll tell you what, let's look to the future."
King kept on the point, however, offering Trump the opportunity to criticize the Bush administration as well as Obama and Clinton.
"It's a war we shouldn't have been in, number one," Trump reiterated, "and it's a war that when we got out, we got out the wrong way. That's Obama."
Hillary Clinton
Asked about Clinton, Trump told King, "The bottom line is, Larry, she doesn't have what it takes."
That, Trump clarified, did not necessarily mean he did not like her as a person.
"No, it's not about liking or disliking," the Republican nominee said. "I mean, I wish she did a phenomenal job, and we wouldn't have all these problems."
"I wouldn't be running," Trump continued. "I'd be having dinner with you some place maybe."
Campaigning
King then asked Trump whether or not he was looking forward to the upcoming debates against Clinton.
"Nothing in life is easy," Trump answered. "It's not going to be easy, but it is something I look forward to, absolutely."
The Republican candidate shrugged off speculation that Russia may be trying to influence the 2016 US election.
"It's probably unlikely," he told King. "Maybe the Democrats are putting that out, who knows?"
"I just want to make sure that the election is 100 percent fair," Trump said.
Mexican immigration
King's final question was on immigration, specifically on Mexican immigration.
"Let's get something clear, because I've known you a long time. What are your feelings about Mexican immigrants? What in your gut do you feel about this?" King asked.
But Trump never answered, seemingly dropping off the line, despite King reassuring his audience that the phone connection was not lost.