In a jaw-dropping interview with a Nevada news affiliate on Wednesday, Donald Trump made a series of outlandish and false claims, leaving veteran journalist Jon Ralston in shock.
Ralston, a seasoned newsman, pointed out that Trump stands little chance of winning Nevada in November. Despite this, Trump confidently declared he would win the “very special” state by 13 points during his interview with Reno station 2 News Nevada. Ralston quickly debunked this on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Reality: He has lost NV twice, and almost no chance he wins by double digits.”
One of the long-standing political issues in Nevada is the controversy over storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, which has widespread opposition. Trump emphatically claimed he is 100% against the idea, a statement Ralston immediately exposed as a lie. “Trump repeatedly put Yucca in his budget!” Ralston exclaimed. “He suddenly came out against it as an election-year epiphany!”
Trump also made the baffling assertion that “that area is thriving,” which left Ralston bewildered. “This is all jabberwocky from him,” Ralston said, clearly frustrated.
In another dubious claim, Trump mentioned he was closely following the state’s GOP Senate primary race, describing it as “tight” and asserting that GOP candidate Sam Brown was “leading, actually, by quite a bit.” Ralston slammed this as ridiculous. “The GOP Senate primary here is not tight,” Ralston stated, referencing recent polls showing Brown at 52% and opponent Jeff Gunte at 14%. Trump has not endorsed anyone in the race. “Sam Brown will win, and Trump signaled he will endorse him, now that he is sure Brown will win,” Ralston wrote.
At one point, Trump bizarrely professed his love for “the Hispanics,” claiming, “I’ve been great to them. They’re incredible people. They’re smart and entrepreneurial people, they know I like them. And they like me. And I mean, it’s somewhat of a revolution going on in terms of the vote with the Hispanic voters.” He then contrasted this with President Joe Biden, whom he described as someone “who doesn’t know he’s alive.”
“My goodness,” Ralston reacted, encapsulating the bewilderment and disbelief many viewers likely felt.
During the interview, Trump also took a swipe at his former Vice President Mike Pence, criticizing him for not assisting in overturning the 2020 election results.
“Mike didn’t have the courage to do what you have to do,” Trump said. “He had the right to turn those votes back to the states. And to have them check could have been done in three days, two days, or one day, and they could have done it in one week. And in fact, you know, he said he didn’t have the right to do it. But he did. In fact, they took that right. And they ended that right. After, you know, the right that he had to do he had absolute right. And what they did is after the election, they terminated the right. They got some rhinos together with Democrats, and they made it so you no longer have the right to do, and I said you have the right to do, and as you know, that was a very scarred up election, terrible election, a horrible election.”
He added: “And he had the right to send it back while you’re doing is asking them to please go over the votes. And I believe if he did that, because by that time, a lot was learned about the corruption. If he did that, I believe you would have had different election results.”
Donald Trump continues to attack Mike Pence for refusing to put him over the Constitution on January 6, 2020:
“Mike did a good job until the end when he didn't have the courage to do what you have to do. He had the right to turn those votes back to the states.” pic.twitter.com/6l23VGldRj
— Republican Voters Against Trump (@AccountableGOP) May 22, 2024
On Yucca Mountain: Trump claimed he is "strongly against it."
This is a lie.
Trump repeatedly put Yucca in his budget! He suddenly came out against it as an election year epiphany! And: "That area is thriving." WHAT?
This is all jabberwocky from him. pic.twitter.com/MO5VEO5Qmu
— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) May 22, 2024
Oh and one more thing: He loves the Hispanics. Great people. Wonderful, hard-working people. Tremendous energy. Unlike Biden, who "doesn't know he's alive."
My goodness.
— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) May 22, 2024
