NBC News correspondent Kristen Welker conducted a probing interview with Senator Lindsey Graham concerning former President Donald Trump’s alleged aspirations to emulate Hungary’s Viktor Orbán as a dictator.
Welker presented a video clip of Trump praising Orbán as a “fantastic leader,” given the prime minister’s 14-year tenure in Hungary. She questioned Graham on whether Trump aimed for a similar leadership style in a potential second term.
Graham defended Trump by urging an evaluation of his first term’s accomplishments, citing instances such as the absence of Russian invasion, Hamas not threatening Israel, and the Taliban not being in control. He framed a vote for Trump as a choice to restore order to the world.
Welker pressed Graham on Trump’s statements about dictatorship and retribution, emphasizing concerns about a potential erosion of democratic values. Graham responded by asserting that Trump’s focus was on achieving success, dismissing worries about democracy while expressing greater concern about President Biden’s impact on global issues.
The interview featured a back-and-forth between Welker and Graham, with Welker highlighting Trump’s alignment with Orbán and his alleged erosion of democratic norms. Graham deflected, emphasizing that Orbán is not on the ballot and urging a focus on the choice between Trump and Biden in the upcoming election. He advocated for debates between the candidates, emphasizing the significance of the election and inviting Trump to engage in discussions at any time.
“You know what he said? Retribution would be success. Did you know, who knocked Trump off the ballot in Colorado? Who knocked Trump off the ballot in Maine? There’s a ‘liberal jihad’ against everything Trump! I’m not worried about Trump destroying democracy,” Graham continued while wagging his finger at Welker. “I’m worried about Biden destroying the world!”
WELKER: Those were Republicans on the Supreme Court who have now put him back on the ballot, as you know.
GRAHAM: Yeah, but, the point is you’re trying to ask me, “Is Trump bad for this country?”
WELKER: No. I’m asking you —
GRAHAM: I would say that Joe Biden’s policies are bad for America and have got the world on fire.
WELKER: Senator, just to be very clear, though. He is aligning himself with Viktor Orbán, who’s —
GRAHAM: Who’s a member of NATO, who just voted to let Sweden in!
WELKER: Reluctantly, though. He has scaled back democratic norms in Hu — He has rolled back democratic norms, though.
GRAHAM: Orbán is not on the ballot! Let’s have that debate, Ok? Orbán is not on the ballot. You’ve got to vote between Trump and Biden. Biden has screwed the world up every way you can. Broken borders, the world on fire. If he’s really back, if he’s with it, if he’s energetic, get in a room with Donald Trump and debate! Take questions from people like yourself, rather than reading a teleprompter. If there’s ever an election in the history of America that deserved debates between two candidates, it’s this election.
Trump just told me, his campaign just told me, “Any time, anywhere. Let’s debate.”
