Trump HANGS UP on Obama-Friendly NPR Host Pressing Him on ‘Rigged’ Election Claims

Donald Trump had many interviews during his presidential campaign, but none were granted to NPR or PBS. He knew he was running to be a populist, and that they were elitist channels. They’re taxpayer-funded, but sound like they’re Democrat-owned.

Trump just ended that streak by giving an interview to Steve Inskeep on Tuesday. They planned a 15-minute interview – and Trump ended it at nine minutes. Inskeep started by questioning Trump about vaccines and coronavirus, but quickly moved into questions about 2020 elections and why Trump was not able to win in a landslide. Trump was tired of this endless conversation and decided to end it. 

You can find the following: @NPRinskeepAs Trump’s interview ends, it is clear that Trump doesn’t expect the hangup. Obama is used to long, sugary talks with him. Republicans are the complete opposite. pic.twitter.com/TCkv98qiJ2

— Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) January 13, 2022

INSKEEP [interrupting]:

TRUMP: Now, let me ask you a simple question. Biden was unable to attract more than 20 people in a large crowd. Biden went to different places to give a speech, and nobody showed up to see it. But, all of a suddenly, he received 80 million votes. Steve, that’s a lie. That is a lie.

INSKEEP: You might be forgiven for thinking that the election was really about you. Can I just ask: Are you telling Republicans that 2022 they have to make your case regarding the last election? Does that make it an absolute?

TRUMP: They are going to do whatever they want to do — whatever they have to do, they’re going to do. But the ones that are smart — the ones that know, you take a look at. You can take another look at Kari Lake’s performance as she runs for governor. This issue is very important to her. This is a huge leader. This issue is so important that people don’t know how large it really is. They don’t wish it to occur again.

Inskeep’s interviews with presidential candidates offer two key points to consider: 

1. Steve Inskeep was mostly correct in his questions of Trump. However, they were not hardballs. They were facts-based hardballs. Except for telling Trump the election was about him, as though the pro-Biden media wouldn’t have done it this way. He didn’t lecturing Trump. Trump received information and quotes from him. You can find the full transcript here.

2. Steve Inskeep’s “unusually relaxed” interviews with Obama were, for the most part softballs. While his overall record is not good for Democrats, it’s hard on Republicans. Inskeep’s exaggerated praises for Soule Omarova (radical-left Biden nominee). Watch Inskeep get offended by a pro-life guest using the term “abortionist”.

Some reporters fell into a smugness about Trump’s granting of this short interview. 

Trump speaks to no MAGA media fan broadcaster. It’s extremely rare. This is almost never the case. And the reason is obvious… https://t.co/t7dKCYI4Z4

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 12, 2022

What? It almost never happens. Lesley Stahl? Lester Holt Savannah Guthrie: Long, nasty town hall? Stelter needs to tell us about the number of interviews Biden granted conservative media. Trump seems to have granted liberal media more interviews than Biden in his presidency. Biden has yet not given an interview to NPR and PBS. We can only guess that it will arrive soft.