A GOP senator’s characterization of a clip of Donald Trump spewing violent language about former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) as a “distortion” and “pre-Election Day hoax” didn’t pass muster for CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who immediately pushed back.
The tense exchange unfolded during an appearance by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) on Tapper’s show “The Lead” after a clip was played of Trump suggesting former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) should experience “nine barrels shooting at her” – which the Trump ally defended as a "desperate" “pre-Election Day hoax.”
“I don’t know how you define hoax – this is not a hoax – we ran his clip, and you know, there were people who were legitimately offended by that,” Tapper said.
ALSO READ: Donald Trump believes he’s going to lose
“It’s a distortion Jake, this is a distortion,” Hagerty insisted.
Tapper continued to push back on Hagerty’s characterization of Trump’s remarks, adding that the network “ran the entire quote.”
“This is a distortion about violence and the violence he’s talking about is the violence that’s perpetrated on our men and women in service and the decisions that are made by people like Liz Cheney to send them into the throes,” Hagerty said.
The GOP senator added that the reason the comments are “blowing up right now is because we’re only four days away from the election. President Trump is winning, and this is another desperate hoax.”
Earlier in the segment, Tapper pointed out the hypocrisy of Republicans like Trump’s running mate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) criticizing Democrats for their rhetoric.
“I think the issue is the very violent imagery at a time when Republicans are saying, ‘Oh Democrats need to tone down the rhetoric’ – are you worried at all politically that this…could hurt?” Tapper asked.
Hagerty continued by saying that Trump was trying to make the point that “war is serious, war is deadly.”
Watch the clip below or at this link.