Donald Trump rails against ‘dishonest’ and ‘sleazy’ reporters who questioned his veterans fundraiser
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held a Tuesday press conference in which he criticized questions about a fundraiser he held for veterans groups.
Trump once claimed he raised $6 million in a January fundraiser but now says the number was closer to $5.6 million. He attacked the “dishonest” media for raising questions about him taking months to identify the recipients of the funds and the fact that he did not bring in as much money as he initially promised.
He also singled out individual reporters for insults, including one man he mocked as “a real beauty” and another whom he called “a sleaze.”
“I have to tell you, the press is so dishonest and so unfair,” Trump said.
The press conference followed months of questions about the fundraiser, which Trump held Jan. 28 in lieu of participating in a Fox News GOP presidential debate that evening. At the time, Trump said the network was treating him unfairly. He repeatedly claimed to have raised $6 million from the event.
After ongoing questions about the fundraiser, Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, admitted earlier this month to the Washington Post that Trump did not raise as much as the billionaire mogul had claimed. Lewandowski said the fundraiser generated about $4.5 million, but the Post was only able to identify around $3.1 million in donations. These revelations sparked protests at Trump Tower from activist veterans who criticized Trump’s handling of the fundraiser and lack of “accountability.” Lewandowski said the shortfall was due to donors who reneged on promises to contribute, though Trump later contradicted this claim.
During his Tuesday press conference, Trump rattled off a list of groups he claimed received donations from the fundraiser. He also displayed a $1 million check he said he wrote for the event. Though Trump first announced the $1 million personal donation at the fundraiser in January, he did not move to distribute that money until last week.
While the $5.6 million Trump claimed was raised is still short of his initial promises, he said “more is coming in” and the final total will “probably” be above $6 million.
Reporters questioned Trump about why it took so long for him to reveal where the money went. Trump claimed that the delay was due to “vetting” the veterans organizations. He also argued that the “press should be ashamed of themselves” for questioning the fundraiser because the skepticism could lead “people like me … not to give money.” Trump repeatedly insisted he held the fundraiser, which was televised, merely as a “private” gesture.
“I wanted to make this out of the goodness of my heart. I didn’t want to do this where the press is all involved,” Trump said. “I’m totally accountable, but I didn’t want to have credit for it. But actually, though, what I got was worse than credit, because they were questioning me.”
CNN’s Jim Acosta asked Trump whether he is “resistant to scrutiny.” The candidate responded by mocking Acosta.
“I like scrutiny, but you know what? When I raise money…” Trump began.
Acosta tried to cut in, but Trump shut him down.
“Excuse me. Excuse me. I’ve watched you on television. You’re a real beauty,” Trump said to Acosta.
Trump went on to suggest that reporters should “find out how much Hillary Clinton’s given to the veterans” and speculated that the total would be “nothing.”
“I don’t want the credit for it, but I shouldn’t be lambasted,” Trump said of the fundraiser.
A reporter pointed out that, while Trump claimed he wanted to make a private gesture, he hosted a “very public fundraiser.”
“How else am I going to raise the money?” Trump asked.
As the press conference concluded, another reporter asked Trump if the combative tone he struck with the press was “what it’s going to be like” with his campaign going forward.
“Yeah, it is going to be like this,” Trump said.
