“Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker asked President-elect Donald Trump more than a dozen times Sunday about whether he intends to use the levers of power to target political opponents.
In November, President Trump nominated former Florida Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi as attorney general and former Trump administration official Kash Patel as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Welker asked Trump on “Meet the Press” about the list of people Patel named in her book as members of the “deep state” and repeatedly pressed him about whether he would target political opponents. I put it on. (Related: 'They entered the country illegally': President Trump clashes with 'Meet the Press' host over promise of deportation)
“His book lists 60 people who are members of the so-called deep state, including Democrats like Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, from Bill Barr to Christopher -Includes former members of the Cabinet up to Ray,” Welker said. “You were running a campaign to destroy the deep state. Would you like Kash Patel to start investigating the people on that list?”
“No. I mean, he's going to do what he thinks is right,” Trump responded, later saying he felt Patel had an “obligation” to investigate “dishonest or crooked” politicians. he added.
clock:
Mr. Welker asked Mr. Trump if he intended to “direct” Mr. Patel to investigate politicians, to which Mr. Trump said he had no intention of doing so.
“We have two great people, him and Pam,” President Trump said. “Pam Bondi is like a rocket ship, very popular, very good, very fair, and Kash Patel is also very fair. I'll tell you, I thought Kash could be a difficult person. , because he's, you know, a strong conservative voice, and I don't know anyone who doesn't sing his praises.”
Mr. Welker then asked Mr. Trump whether he wanted Mr. Patel to go after “political opponents,” to which Mr. Trump said he did not expect Mr. Patel to do so and said that Mr. Welker said, “I don't think so.'' When asked if he would like to see what happens, he answered in the negative. Mr. Welker then pressed Mr. Trump about President Joe Biden.
“Is that what you're going to do? To go after Joe Biden?” Welker asked.
“I want this country to succeed. Retaliation will come through success,” Trump responded. (Related article: Disgraced former FBI director Andrew McCabe worries that Trump's appointment could “damage someone like Kash Patel.”)
Mr. Welker then asked about Mr. Bondi, whom Mr. Trump appointed after his original nominee for attorney general, former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida, withdrew from consideration on Nov. 21.
“Pam Bondi talks about the investigator's investigation. Would you like to see the Jack Smith investigation?” Mr. Welker asked, to which Mr. Trump responded, “I want her to do whatever she has to do.” .
“Are you going to direct her to investigate Jack Smith?” Mr. Welker asked. Mr. Trump replied: “Are you going to direct her to investigate Jack Smith?” “No, it's not.”
Later in the interview, Welker asked Trump whether former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who served on the special committee investigating the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, should be jailed. Ta. (Click here to watch the Daily Caller documentary “Fraud: The Death of the American Voter”)
“So do you think Liz Cheney should go to prison?” Mr. Welker continued, “Are you going to direct the FBI Director and Attorney General to send them to prison?”
President Trump replied, “Not at all.” “I think they need to look into it, but I'm not going to do that. I'm going to focus on drill, baby, drill.”
All content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent, nonpartisan news distribution service, is available free of charge to legitimate news publishers with large audiences. All republished articles must include our logo, reporter byline, and DCNF affiliation. If you have any questions about our guidelines or our partnership, please contact us at licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
