Trump Acknowledges False Election Claims Were His Decision in “Meet the Press” Interview
In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” former President Donald Trump admitted that it was ultimately his decision to
Nik Richie
In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” former President Donald Trump admitted that it was ultimately his decision to push false claims of winning the 2020 presidential election and attempt to overturn the results.
“It was my decision, but I listened to some people,” Trump told NBC’s Kristen Welker in the interview.
Trump is currently facing indictments related to his efforts to subvert the 2020 election results. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denies any wrongdoing.
A central premise of special counsel Jack Smith’s case against Trump is that the former president knowingly disseminated false election claims despite close aides informing him that he had lost. This alleged criminal conspiracy forms the basis of the indictment.
“I was listening to different people, and when I added it all up, the election was rigged,” Trump said in the interview, continuing to assert the false claim.
Trump further revealed that he did not listen to his attorneys who informed him of his election loss because he did not respect them. He criticized some of his legal team members as “RINOs” (Republicans in name only) and questioned their competence.
Following his election loss, Trump pursued various avenues to overturn the results, including pressuring election officials and attempting to install fake GOP electors in swing states.
The House select committee that investigated Trump’s actions leading up to the January 6, 2021, insurrection concluded that Trump played a central role in the events and actively worked to transmit false Electoral College ballots to Congress and the National Archives.
Jack Smith’s federal election interference investigation is one of four criminal cases against Trump, including charges of obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States.