Donald Trump refused to concede his 2020 electoral loss in his first interview on CNN since 2016, maintaining a stance that Republicans say risks their efforts to retake the White House.
The former president and current frontrunner for the GOP nomination repeated false stolen election claims several times during the televised town hall in New Hampshire on Wednesday.
“That was a rigged election and it was a shame we had to go through it,” Trump said. The town hall moderator, Kaitlan Collins, repeatedly pointed out that his claims of fraud were false.
Trump also repeated his debunked claims that it was the responsibility of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to stop the deadly riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Pelosi’s office has said she shared control of the Capitol with the Senate majority leader, but it was Trump’s duty to act.
Trump also said he would pardon a “large portion” of his supporters who waged a deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol to overturn his electoral loss.
“I am inclined to pardon many of them. I can’t say for every single one,” Trump said in response to a question from an audience member.
Earlier: Trump Returns to CNN at a Fraught Time for Him and the Network
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