From the September 6 edition of ABC's ABC World News Tonight with David Muir:
ABC's Interview With Trump Fails To Push Him On Immigration Details, Tax Returns, And Sexist Clinton Attacks
David Muir: “When You Talk About [Clinton] Not Looking Presidential, Are You Talking About Aesthetics Here?”
Written by Media Matters Staff
Published
DAVID MUIR (HOST): Let me ask you, Mr. Trump, you just traveled to Mexico. Hillary Clinton, who's also here in Ohio, as you know, told us a short time ago that you choked. That the idea of Mexico paying for this wall has been central to your campaign. Did you choke?
DONALD TRUMP: So, let me just tell you about choking. I don't choke. She chokes. Look at the deals she's made. She's responsible for so many bad things that have happened to our country, including the signing by her husband of NAFTA, which has trained our country of its jobs. I've been given A+, including by you people, but I've been given A+'s for the job I did in Mexico, and the fact is, Mexico will pay for the wall. It was discussed that it wouldn't be discussed, but they know stance, and I know their stance.
MUIR: Did the Mexican president break his word in talking about it?
TRUMP: We had ground rules, and that's OK. See who wins in the end. We'll win. 100 percent, they're going to pay for the wall.
MUIR: Let me ask you about what one of your top surrogates said in the last 24 hours, Rudy Giuliani said that Donald Trump would, quote, “find it very difficult to throw a family that's been here in the United States for 15 years with kids who are now American citizens, out of this country,” that "that is not the America that Donald Trump wants." So, will some of these families be allowed to stay?
TRUMP: First of all, he's 100 percent right. That's very difficult. That's a very difficult thing to do. What we're going to do is, we're going to build a tremendously strong and powerful border. People are going to come in, but they're going to come in legally. We're going to get rid of all of the bads, the gang members, the drug lords, and all of the different people that are here and that shouldn't be here. We're going to clean things up. Once we have a secure border, totally secure, we're going to take a look at the people that you're talking about.
MUIR: Does that mean some of those 11 million undocumented immigrants will be allowed to stay?
TRUMP: It could be, but what's going to happen is, if you are going to be a citizen, you're going to have to leave and you're going to have to come in.
MUIR: And if they don't want to become a citizen?
TRUMP: Then we'll have to make a determination what happens when the border is secure.
MUIR: So, you're open to them staying here undocumented?
TRUMP: I'm going to make a decision, or somebody will, whether it's me or somebody else. Because, perhaps, depending on the time, by that time, we'll have a secure border, we'll have a wall. We will have stopped the drugs pouring into the country.
MIKE PENCE: But David, let me also say, it's very appropriate to have lots of interest in what a President Donald Trump will do on illegal immigration. Donald Trump put the issue of illegal immigration at the center of the national debate. But what I'd also like to see, and I think millions of Americans would like to see, is more clarity about Hillary Clinton's plan.
MUIR: Governor Pence, you're making news this week in revealing that you'll release your tax returns.
PENCE: Sure. Be a pretty quick read.
MUIR: Pretty quick read. I'm curious, do you think the American voter has the right to see the tax returns of Donald Trump before they vote on election day?
PENCE: I'm very pleased to provide our tax returns, you're going to find out my family is a middle class family and that they'll be pretty clear evidence that we haven't profited from our 16 years in and around public life as some others have --
MUIR: But Governor, I'm asking about Donald Trump, and every presidential candidate going back 40 years --
PENCE: Well look, I'm releasing my tax returns. Donald Trump will release his tax returns. I'll give mine to y'all this week and he's going to provide his after a routine audit is done.
TRUMP: As far as my taxes are concerned, the only one that cares is the press, I will tell you, and even the press, I will tell you, it's not a big deal.
MUIR: You don't think there are any voters out there --
TRUMP: I don't think so, no. I think people don't care. I released the most extensive financial review of anybody in the history of politics. It's either 100 or maybe more pages of names of companies, locations of companies, et cetera, et cetera, and it's a very impressive list. And everybody says that. But I've released a massive list. Far more than you get -- you don't learn much in a tax return.
MUIR: Tax returns do reveal how much someone's paid in taxes, and how much they've given in charitable giving.
TRUMP: Well that's OK, but I've given a list on things that I've given to charity. I have given that list.
MUIR: But you won't reveal what you paid in taxes unless the audit is done.
TRUMP: When the audit is done, I will release.
[...]
MUIR: Let me ask, you have often talked about Hillary Clinton's stamina. You have even said she doesn't look presidential.
TRUMP: I really do believe that, yes.
MUIR: But what do you mean by that?
TRUMP: Well, I just don't she has a presidential look. And you need a presidential look, you have to get the job done. I think if she went to Mexico, she would have had a total failure. We had a big success.
MUIR: But when you talk about her not looking presidential, are you talking about aesthetics here?
TRUMP: I'm talking about generally -- hey, by the way, she says things about me that are horrible. As an example, the single greatest asset I have, according to those that know me, is my temperament. But she came up with this Madison Avenue line, “oh, let's talk about his temperament.” It's the single greatest asset I have, is my temperament.
Previously:
Here Are All The Reasons Media Think Trump Is Not Releasing His Tax Returns
White Nationalist Media Cheers Trump’s “Almost Perfect” Immigration Speech
Right-Wing Media Figures Praise Donald Trump's Sexist Attack On Hillary Clinton