(LibertyInsider.org) — Former President Donald Trump appeared surprisingly relaxed during his recent Fox News town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 10. The casual tone of the event sharply contrasted the fraught and sometimes outright confrontational atmosphere during CNN’s simultaneous Town Hall with Governors Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley.
Hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum asked Trump plenty of questions but refrained from checking their guest on most of his statements. This refreshing openness afforded the former president a unique opportunity to share his viewpoints with ease.
Baier and MacCallum opened the exchange by expressing condolences for the loss of Mrs. Melania Trump’s mother, Amalija Knavs, the evening prior. Trump thanked them for their thoughtful comment and praised Amalija, calling her a “great woman.”
Trump delved into a range of critical issues throughout the rest of the interview, delivering each comment with his usual straightforward directness. However, he engaged in very little of the boisterousness witnessed during his iconic debate with President Joe Biden in 2020.
Baier introduced a video clip containing a then-breaking announcement from Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ), who had dropped out of the presidential race only a few hours prior. Following this reveal, McCallum highlighted the potential electoral implications of Christie’s decision to withdraw. She pointed out that Christie’s estimated 12% support could shift to Nikki Haley, potentially challenging Trump’s 14% lead in New Hampshire, as per Real Clear Politics.
Trump dismissed the numbers as irrelevant, redirecting McCallum’s attention to national polls. “We are leading by almost 60 points, so I’m not exactly worried about it,” he smiled.
The former president did take a moment to touch on Christie’s hot mic scandal in which he accidentally insulted Haley’s chances live on the air. “I happen to know [Christie] is right,” he said, confirming his own lack of faith in her.
When asked whether he had picked a running mate, Trump was willing to confirm that he did have someone in mind. However, he wasn’t willing to give up that information just yet.
Trump also spent a considerable amount of time pointing out chaos within the Biden administration. He was particularly critical of the president’s handling of the war in Ukraine and the ballooning migrant crisis.
While relaxed, the former president’s hardline stance on certain issues remained clear. He vowed to put an end to sanctuary cities, celebrating overturning Roe V. Wade, and committed to a more robust response to the migrant crisis.
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