Today Hosts Challenge Trump On Whether His Actions Are Presidential
Written by Media Matters Staff
Published
From the February 10 edition of NBC's Today:
MATT LAUER (HOST): Now this New Hampshire win though says, “OK, this guy is on track.” When it comes to parents in this country, they want their kids to be able to look up to the president. They want them to be able to admire the president. You were on with us last week and we talked to you about being more subdued. You said, “I'm trying to become more statesmanlike, more subdued.” This week, you continued using some words, repeating a word that a supporter said to you at an event that I'm not going to repeat here. Is that statesmanlike?
DONALD TRUMP: Well you know we had a massive rally, 5,000 people in a snowstorm, in a blizzard, and everybody was having a good time. And a woman, not a man, a woman, shouted out this word, and then shouted it out again.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE (HOST): But you didn't have to repeat it.
TRUMP: Eh, but we had a good time and it wasn't the worst thing in the world. But the problem with the country --
GUTHRIE: But I -- but to Matt's point though, if you're a presidential candidate that we have to bleep, is that what you really want to show?
TRUMP: If I got close, I wouldn't ever do it, but we were having a tremendous time, I got a standing ovation for doing that. Everybody was up and down, standing, screaming. It was an amazing event and it's one of the reasons I won. You have to be yourself. Now, as I get -- look, I was a good student at the best school and all of that stuff. I know what to do and what not to do. But I will say this, as you get closer, you act a little bit differently. We were having a good time. Those people went out and voted for me and that's why we got the numbers we did. But look, this country, political correctness is killing us in so many different ways.
GUTHRIE: Is it political correctness or is it just good manners, temperament, demeanor?
TRUMP: No, I don't think -- it wasn't the worst thing in the world. We all had a good time and remember this, it was a woman and it was a repeat. It wasn't me. In fact, I said you should never say that word, you should never say that word.
LAUER: And then sarcastically repeated the word.
TRUMP: Of course and then did I reprimand the woman? I said --
LAUER: You can't reprimand someone if you're going to say the world yourself.
TRUMP: No, I said, you are hereby reprimanded. This way I figured I saved myself from the press.
Previously:
Media Hype A “Subdued,” “Toned Down” Donald Trump As He Continues To Make Extreme Comments