Stefanik, FNC’s Bream Clash over 2022 NY Times Article Questioning Stefanik’s Trump Support

Bream: I’d like to talk to you about Veep Stakes. Your name is frequently excluded as being on the shortlist as potentially this trip could be part of the audition. The New York Times published a long article talking about your transformation from someone who doesn’t support President Trump to someone who fully supports him.

At one point you called him a bad worker. They add: “In August 2015, she told a New York radio station that he was ‘demeaning to women’ and that his candidacy would undermine the party’s efforts to attract women voters.” Her revisionism, according to former friends of Trump, who she believed to be too scary and ridiculous to be taken seriously, was reflected in her reaction to Trump at the time, who had known her for the longest time. It still shocks those who remember the disdain he expressed.

So the question is when? More importantly, why did he change his mind about President Trump?

Stefanik: Well, Shannon, it’s shameful that you use anonymous, faceless, false sources to quote the New York Times.

Bream: But they’re quoting your friend, so I’ll give you a chance to respond.

Stefanik: No, no, no, Shannon — Shannon — Shannon, they’re not quoting my friend. These names are not included as they are incorrect smears. I was attacked as the only Republican —

Bream: Well, to be fair, there are a lot of people quoted in the article.

(crosstalk)

Stefanik: Shannon, let me correct you.

Bream: People can read it themselves.

Stefanik: This is — this is a false slander, and please tell me the facts, Shannon. In 2016, I was attacked for being the only Republican from the Northeast who voted for President Trump. Democrats spent hundreds of thousands of dollars attacking me for that fact. Therefore, it is simply false that I did not support him.

I’m proud to have been one of his strongest supporters going back to when he ran for office in 2016, when I was first re-elected to the House of Representatives. I have strongly supported him. He is set to become the next president of the United States. The American people know that. My constituents know that. And I’m proud to be one of his strongest allies in Congress.

I’ve always put my district first, New York 21 first, and America first. And this is an opportunity for us to stop the failure of Joe Biden and elect a president who brings a strong economy and strong national security.

Bream: Okay —

Stefanik: But my record speaks for itself, Shannon.

Bream: — where you are now. But let’s hear it —

Stefanik: My record speaks for itself.

Bream: Okay, but let me ask you. Because you’re saying on a radio station that you’re insulting women. Is that a misquote? Didn’t you say that?

Stefanik: I said the statements that the Democrats leaked in 2016 were insulting. But Shannon, I stood by and supported him. And I strongly support him. And he has made significant contributions to advancing women into senior positions and advancing the economic opportunities for women that we experienced during his four years in office.

So I’m proud to support him. It’s shameful to take a New York Times article and read all the negative quotes when, in reality, I was the only woman from the Northeast who voted Republican in 2016. Thing–

Bream: Okay.

Stefanik: — someone who was a big supporter of him. And I am proud to be one of his strongest allies today.

Bream: Okay. We know where you are today. People can read the article themselves. There are many names that have been recorded. Leave it at that. Obviously you’re supporting him now. And we track where you are on the campaign trajectory.

Stefanik: I was supporting him at the time.

Bream: Okay.

Stefanik: I was supporting him at the time, Shannon. In 2016, you know, I voted for him in 2016 and I want the viewers to know that I was attacked for that.

Bream: Congressman, thank you very much for your time. Safe travels.

Stefanik: Thank you.