‘A Rare One-on-One’: Trump Speaks with CNN After Michigan Campaign Event

TAPPER: “And we’re back here live in Chicago as Democrats get set for night two of their convention. The Trump-Vance campaign continues its GOP counter-programming push. Moments ago, former President Donald Trump wrapping up a campaign event in battleground Michigan. And after it, he spoke with CNN’s Kristen Holmes. Kristen, this is a rare one-on-one. I don’t know the last time he did a one-on-one with CNN. What did he have to say?”

HOLMES: “Well, one of the things that he talked about was your exclusive reporting, Jake, talking about John Kelly pushing back on Donald Trump’s remarks, which obviously rubbed a lot of veterans the wrong way, when he essentially said that a civilian honor was the same as receiving the Medal of Freedom, something — the Medal of Honor. That was something that John Kelly had pushed back on saying not even close. When I asked Donald Trump about it, here’s what he said.”

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Trump: “John Kelly has an axe to grind, and he made up a story. Nobody would say what he said. I would be the last person to say — he’s a liar. He’s been a proven liar. He’s lied on other occasions. I didn’t respect him. Once I lost my respect for him because I saw that he couldn’t do the job, I fired him. And when you fire people, they tend to say negative things.”

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HOLMES: “Now, of course, just to remind everyone, John Kelly was his longest serving chief of staff. He is a retired Marine, and he was Donald Trump’s chief of staff while he was in the White House. The two had a very close working relationship. But obviously, these comments from Kelly, repeated comments from Kelly have gotten underneath Donald Trump’s skin. Now, in addition to that, I asked Donald Trump about the new reporting that RFK might be considering endorsing him, and would that mean that RFK might get a role in the administration, and Trump said that he would look into it, that it was something that he would consider, putting RFK in that role. When I asked about any kind of pushback, since he’s had so many progressive ideas, RFK, he said, well, Republicans like me, and I want smart people in the White House. Now, reminder, Jake, yesterday he said he would also consider putting Elon Musk into the administration. So, something that would likely not go over well with Republicans. But it was interesting to see him in this room today, not just for our one-on-one, but really trying to talk to the crowd here. He was clearly trying to stay on message, as we have seen over and over again, him kind of devolve as Harris became the top of the ticket.”

TAPPER: “All right, Kristen Holmes, thank you so much. And obviously, when it comes to retired Marine General John Kelly versus Donald Trump on just a record of truth telling, I don’t think there’s much competition there.”