Trump: 'Surprise' question about Pence led him to hesitate
Jun 23, 2019
President Donald Trump says he hesitated when asked about endorsing Vice President Mike Pence for a possible presidential run in 2024 because the question was a "surprise."
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says he hesitated when he was asked about backing Vice President Mike Pence if Pence runs for president in 2024 because the question caught him off-guard.
"You can't put me in that position," Trump said June 14 when one of the hosts of Fox News Channel's "Fox and Friends" asked him about endorsing Pence should the vice president decide to seek the presidency in 2024. Pence hasn't explicitly said he'll run in 2024, but he is widely expected to.
Offered a chance to explain, Trump said he hesitated "because it was a surprise question."
"I'm not even thinking of it. It's so far out. I mean, It's so far out," Trump told NBC's "Meet the Press" in a wide-ranging interview taped Friday at the White House and broadcast Sunday. "Now what happens in 2024? I don't know that Mike is going to run. I don't know who's running or anything else."
Also in the interview, Trump criticized Fed chairman Jerome Powell and said his biggest mistake was choosing Jeff Sessions to be attorney general.
For his part, Pence glossed over the flap Trump's comments caused, telling CNN's "State of the Union" that the president's comment reflected "the fact that the only election he and I are focused on is 2020." Trump formally announced his 2020 reelection bid last week, with Pence at his side.
In the NBC interview, Trump lashed out at Powell over past interest rate hikes and denied threatening to demote Powell to the Fed's No. 2 job.
The Federal Reserve voted last week to leave its key interest rate unchanged, but the independent agency signaled that it is prepared to begin cutting interest rates to protect the U.S. economy from trade conflicts and other threats.
Last week, Trump did not answer directly when he was asked about news reports that the White House in February had explored whether Trump had the authority to demote Powell to the Fed's No. 2 job. Trump denied to NBC that such a threat has been issued.
"I have the right to do that. But I haven't said that," Trump said.
Trump has previously explored firing Powell, who, under the law, can only be fired for cause.
___
Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap
More News
Russell Brand Maintains Innocence In Message Through Wife From Behind Bars
Russell Brand has claimed that he is “not guilty for the offences I have been jailed for” in a message read by his wife on YouTube. Presenting an episode of their Sunday Service show, Laura Brand delivered some words on behalf of her husband, who is behind bars in Littlehey Prison, a jail for men […]
‘The Good Daughter’ Finale: Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy Unpack ‘Revelatory’ Ending and if the Truth Will Ever Come Out
Creator Karin Slaughter also tells TheWrap about parallels with the Cornell 7 case and if the Peacock drama could continue The post ‘The Good Daughter’ Finale: Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy Unpack ‘Revelatory’ Ending and if the Truth Will Ever Come Out appeared first on TheWrap.
Russell Brand’s Wife Laura Breaks Her Silence After His Rape Conviction & 10+ Year Prison Sentence
Russell Brand‘s wife Laura Brand is speaking out for the first time after he was sentenced to over 10 years […] The post Russell Brand’s Wife Laura Breaks Her Silence After His Rape Conviction & 10+ Year Prison Sentence appeared first on Just Jared - Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos.
Stars with Crazy Hidden Talents (One Actor is a Fire-Eater & Another is a Dog Whisperer!)
Hollywood is full of extremely talented actors, musicians, and athletes, but many of those stars also have crazy weird hidden […] The post Stars with Crazy Hidden Talents (One Actor is a Fire-Eater & Another is a Dog Whisperer!) appeared first on Just Jared - Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos.
Olivia Cooke Says ‘Slow Horses’ Season 8 Could Be Its “Last,” But “Never Say Never”
As Slow Horses saddles up for Season 8, Olivia Cooke recently teased that it could be a final lap around the track. The actress, who recently reprised her role as Sid Baker for Season 6, confirmed that she will be back for the newly announced eighth season of the Apple TV+ spy thriller from creator […]
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Slams ‘Disgusting’ Allegations She Was Involved in Ken Urker’s Death
Gypsy Rose Blanchard is speaking out following on/off partner Ken Urker‘s death. If you didn’t see, Ken was found dead […] The post Gypsy Rose Blanchard Slams ‘Disgusting’ Allegations She Was Involved in Ken Urker’s Death appeared first on Just Jared - Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos.
At Sotheby’s, Risk-Taking Left a $180 Million van Gogh in the Lurch
Claims on the painting by heirs of a Jewish owner were well known in the art world. The auction house will meet lawyers for the heirs on Monday.
‘Club Kid’ Rocks Limited Expansion As ‘Paper Tiger’ Scores James Gray’s Best Per-Screen Debut — Specialty Box Office
Club Kid delivered the best limited expansion of the year with $756k in week 2 on just 27 screens in a crowded specialty market, playing to an audience that was 80% under 35. Paper Tiger marks director James Gray’s highest per screen opening at $35.8k on 6 screens in New York and Los Angeles for […]
The 3 Best Movies to Watch on Prime Video This Week
From a brand new release to a parody of an old favorite The post The 3 Best Movies to Watch on Prime Video This Week appeared first on TheWrap.
Russell Brand Compares Rape Trial Coverage to a ‘Football Match’ in Pre-Recorded Video as His Wife Says He’s ‘Okay’ and ‘Praying’ Post-Sentencing
Russell Brand’s wife, Laura Gallacher, has spoken about the actor’s 10-year and six-month prison sentence after being convicted of rape and sexual assault following his London criminal trial earlier this month. The couple both shared remarks in a YouTube video posted Sunday, in which Gallacher speaks about the conviction before continuing to the pre-recorded episode […]
Nara Smith Reveals She’s Never Decorated for Christmas
Nara Smith wasn’t traditionally one to haul out the holly. The influencer—who shares kids Rumble Honey, 6, Slim Easy, 4, Whimsy Lou, 2, and Fawnie Golden, 13 months, with husband Lucky Blue...
Billy Evans Says He’d Do It All Over Again
Speaking with CBS Sunday Morning, Elizabeth Holmes’s partner said that despite the shower scene and other regrets, he would “100 percent” make “You Can See Everything” once more.