ABC News host George Stephanopoulos clashed Sunday with New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu over his support for Donald Trump, in a heated debate over the former president's prior conviction by the Republican governor.
Sununu, who supported Haley in the Republican primary until he withdrew in March, said he would support Trump, the presumptive Republican Party nominee, in the presidential election. Stephanopoulos questioned whether his support for Trump would continue if he were convicted in the hush money case.
“This trial will not have as many political ramifications as many people think,” Sununu responded. “When it comes to these cases, people view it at this point as reality TV.” "He's going to try to fall victim to it, and it's worked for him. This has been going on for over a year and his poll numbers never seem to go down because of this problem."
Stephanopoulos insisted he was asking Sununu about right and wrong, not politics, and repeatedly asked whether he would be "affected" by the conviction.
"Wait a minute. Your words were very, very clear on January 11, 2021. You said his rhetoric and his actions contributed to the insurrection. No other president in history has contributed to the insurrection. Please clarify, given that you think he contributed to the Mutiny, how can you say we should put him back in the Oval Office? asked Stephanopoulos.
The Republican governor also said it was less about Trump and more about supporting the Republican administration.
"That doesn't make any sense to me, governor. I'm sorry. You're saying it's not Trump. He's going to be president and he's someone who contributed to the insurrection," he said. Stephanopoulos said.
"I understand that doesn't make sense to you, George, but look at the polls. What you're telling me is that you don't understand why 51% of this country supports Donald Trump. They're not crazy .They are not MAGA conservatives,” he said. “They are not extremists, they want to change the culture.”
Stephanopoulos also asked Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., in March about her support for the president. The ABC News anchor wondered how to reconcile her support for the GOP president with the fact that she was a rape victim.
Stephanopoulos responded again and said he wasn't talking about polls.
"I'm asking you a very simple question. Do you think Donald Trump contributed to the insurrection? That's true, isn't it?" he said.
Sununu replied: “I stand by this statement. » Stephanopoulos asked again how he could support Trump.
Sununu said it was "up and down in the voting," telling the ABC News host that Americans are not "reconsidering the date of January 6."
"So ultimately, you're going to support him for president even if he's convicted in secret documents. You're going to support him for president, even if you think he contributed to the insurrection. You support him for president even if you think he is.” He lied about the last election, would you support him for president even if he was convicted in the Manhattan case, I just want to say the answer is yes, right?
Sununu replied: “Yes, me and 51% of America. »