‘I Have My Own Opinions, You Can Have Your Own Opinions’
President Donald Trump abruptly walked away and ended an interview with CBS News‘ John Dickerson Monday morning. Dickerson had just pressed the President on his lie accusing then-President Barack Obama of wiretapping him.Â
Dickerson, a highly-regarded journalist known for his unique questioning style, is the news network’s Chief Washington Correspondent and the host of “Face the Nation.”
Discussing his predecessor in the Oval Office, Trump said President Obama “was very nice to me but after that we’ve had some difficulties.”
“Words are less important to me than deeds, and you saw what happened with surveillance,” Trump offered. Back on March 4, Trump falsely claimed that President Obama wiretapped him – for which, nearly two months later, Trump has still provided zero evidence.
President Trump told Dickerson he thought President Obama’s alleged actions were “inappropriate.”
“You can figure that out yourself,” Trump told Dickerson, when asked to explain what he meant.
The CBS News anchor, who had just interviewed Trump for Sunday’s “Face the Nation,” reminded the president he had called Obama “sick” and “bad.”Â
“Look, you can figure it out yourself,” Trump repeated. “He was very nice to me with words, and when I was with him, but after that there has been no relationship,” Trump insisted.
“But you stand by that claim?” asked Dickerson.
“I don’t stand by anything,” an increasingly defensive Trump responded. “You can take it any way you want. I think our side’s been proven very strongly,” Trump claimed. He went on to say that it’s “a very big surveillance of our citizens,” it should be the “number one” issue, and “we should find out what the hell is going on.”
Of course, as president, Trump has the tools, resources, and means to move the issue forward, but he has done nothing of worth to do so.
Trump again repeated, “You can take it any way you want.”
“But I’m asking you,” Dickerson said, “because you don’t want it to be fake news. I want to hear it from President Trump.”
“You don’t have to ask me,” Trump interjected.
“Why not?” Dickerson asked.
“Because I have my own opinions,” Trump said. “You can have your own opinions.”
“But I want to hear your opinions. You’re the President of the United States,” Dickerson responded.
“OK, that’s enough. Thank you. Thank you very much.”
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And with that, President Trump waved his hand, walked away, sat at his desk in the Oval office, picked up the few papers on his desk and began to read them, as he appeared to be frustrated and pouting.
Earlier today Trump had claimed that Andrew Jackson was very upset about the Civil War, which began 16 years after the late President’s death, and asked why no one was able to work it out.
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Image: Screenshot via CBS News