Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump criticized the Iran deal, the Black Lives Matter movement and even embattled Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis during an appearance Tuesday on Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor.”
Trump, who has remained at the top of the GOP primary polls for weeks, came on Bill O’Reilly’s prime-time show to promote his protest Wednesday alongside his 2016 rival Sen. Ted Cruz against President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran. As per usual, he did not have any kind words for the president’s proposal.
“It’s one of the most incompetently drawn contracts I’ve ever seen,” Trump told O’Reilly. “We don’t get anything, we’re getting nothing from this deal.” The real estate mogul went on to say that if he is elected president he would “make it much, much better,” adding “how Obama got away with it is beyond anybody’s comprehension.” The GOP candidate’s remarks on a host of other issues were a little bit more eyebrow-raising.
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Although Trump is far from the first Republican presidential candidate to condemn the Black Lives Matter movement, he went further than most, alleging that “they’re trouble, I think they’re looking for trouble.” He said he thinks “it’s disgraceful the way that they’re being catered to by Democrats,” and repeatedly stated that “all lives matter.” When O’Reilly pointed out that Colin Powell, a registered Republican, has expressed support for the movement, Trump scoffed, “He’s wrong, he’s totally wrong,” adding “He’s obviously catering to someone.”
Trump distanced himself from reports that he would be open to continuing government funding of Planned Parenthood. A testy Trump told O’Reilly he must have “bad researchers” because he “never” said he would provide funds for Planned Parenthood.
“A lot of people say it’s an abortion clinic, I’m opposed to that,” Trump said Tuesday. However, during a CNN interview earlier this month, Trump did say he would be open to funding “parts” of the controversial women’s health organization. “I would look at the good aspects of it,” Trump said. “I’m sure they do some things properly and good for women and I would look at that, and I’d look at other aspects also, but we have to take care of women. We have to absolutely take care of women. The abortion aspect of Planned Parenthood absolutely should not be funded,” he said at the time.
Conservative supporters of Trump might have been surprised to hear that he believes Kentucky clerk Kim Davis was wrong to refuse to grant marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples. Although Trump said, “I am very strong believer in Christianity and religion,” he acknowledged that the clerk position “was not the right job for her,” which puts him at odds with candidates like Mike Huckabee, who has fully endorsed Davis’ decision to not follow the law.
“Whether you like the decision or not you have to go along with the Supreme Court,” Trump said.
Trump, who would later be greeted with boos at the U.S. Open tournament in New York City, also held court on the migrant crisis in Europe (he said he feared some of the refugees might be affiliated with ISIS) and Syria (he advocated military intervention, in “retrospect”).
He also lamented that “Paris doesn’t look like Paris anymore,” but failed to extrapolate on how and yet again, laid the blame at the foot of President Obama.
The “Stop the Iran Deal” rally, featuring Trump and hosted by the Tea Party Patriots among others, will kick off Wednesday at noon in Washington, D.C. Trump will share the stage with not just Cruz, but outspoken former Fox host Glenn Beck and former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
Adam Howard