Donald Trump is tweeting pretty furiously today, but both the mainstream media and social media are more interested in what he told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos in an interview scheduled to air Sunday morning. First was general outrage over comments he made about the parents of fallen Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who spoke of their son at the Democratic National Convention Thursday night.
The Twitter pile-on was just getting started when another excerpt from the Stephanopoulos interview began making the rounds. In this excerpt, Trump complained that the debates had been scheduled to benefit Hillary Clinton, airing at the same time as NFL games, echoing an allegation he had tweeted late Friday night.
As usual, Hillary & the Dems are trying to rig the debates so 2 are up against major NFL games. Same as last time w/ Bernie. Unacceptable!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 30, 2016
According to a transcript, Trump not only told Stephanopoulos that he didn’t know how the dates (set in September 2015) were picked; he added that he had even received a letter from the NFL agreeing with him that is was ridiculous to schedule the debates against football games.
Wait, Donald Trump got a letter from the NFL complaining about the debate dates? https://t.co/CoqIVco3Eh
— Alex Weprin (@alexweprin) July 30, 2016
Of course, it didn’t take long for the press to get a hold of the NFL, which denied that any such letter had been sent.
Top @NFL spokesman tells me: "While we'd obviously wish the debate commission could find another night, we did not send a letter to Trump."
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/_StephenSanchez/status/759501453400563712
Statement from NFL spokesman to @GuardianUS on Trump's claim that he received a letter from them pic.twitter.com/rYUEdg8Dbx
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) July 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/_StephenSanchez/status/759504094239129600
https://twitter.com/kyletblaine/status/759508893345181696
NFL says Donald Trump is full of shit & that they never sent him a letter complaining about the debate schedule https://t.co/PTdzL2UQAo
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) July 30, 2016
This is simple to prove. He just has to produce the letter. Zip. Over.
— D.J. McKay (@BGStJohn) July 30, 2016
Trump's Saturday:
1. Attacked Khizr Khan and wife over DNC speech.
2. Lied about NFL sending a letter about debates.Day that ends in Y.
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) July 30, 2016
Maybe ABC will do the same favor that CBS and “60 Minutes” did for Clinton and cut this part of the interview from the broadcast?
Why does @realDonaldTrump lie about something that is so instantly and easily checkable? https://t.co/q5ocl416AP
— Terry Moran (@TerryMoran) July 30, 2016
In all seriousness, Hillary Clinton for the most part has the political savvy to lie about things that aren’t so easily checkable, although she’ll slip up every now and then and claim to have dodged sniper fire. If only Trump were shrewd enough to realize that journalists have a much lower threshold for “easily checkable” when it comes to GOP candidates.
https://twitter.com/BenjySarlin/status/759515789330378752
Our major parties have nominated two serial liars. https://t.co/OZBifc0hZv
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) July 30, 2016
From circumstantial evidence, no one is working harder to elect Hillary … than Donald J. Trump.
— Jay Nordlinger (@jaynordlinger) July 30, 2016
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