CNN anchor Jim Acosta said Monday on “The Newsroom” that Republicans should have “totally rejected” President-elect Donald Trump.
A partial transcription follows:
Acosta: Brad, is it time for Donald Trump to apologize for what happened four years ago?
Brad Todd: I don't think Donald Trump will apologize, and I don't think the Democrats will apologize for subsequently using every legal and extralegal means to try to undo his presidency.
Acosta: Oh, Brad! Come!
Todd: No, hey! Look at our own poll. Look at CNN's own exit poll. Voters who said they voted Democratic were evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. January 6th was a dark day in our country's history. Donald Trump has a huge responsibility in that regard. It is something that should forever stain his legacy. But voters punished him for it. That's why he was trailing Ron DeSantis by 20 points until Alvin Bragg charged him. And when voters decided that Democrats were determined to stop Donald Trump from being elected by any extralegal means, they decided that this might not be so clear-cut.
Acosta: So your party shouldn't have rejected him? Just rejected him outright? From Kevin McCarthy to Mitch McConnell to all of them. How could your party make him a candidate again? Isn't that the question?
Todd: Look what happened. Look at what Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell said in the aftermath. They definitely blamed it, and Mitch McConnell slowed down his efforts on the floor for months afterward. However, Nancy Pelosi decided to use January 6th for partisan maneuvering.
Follow Pam Key on X @pamkeyNEN
