CHARLOTTE, N.C. — President Donald Trump made a stop in Charlotte on Friday, hours after a man with local ties was arrested on suspicion of mailing pipe bombs to several public figures.
Before Trump's campaign rally for congressional candidates Mark Harris and Ted Budd, the 45th president of the United States spoke exclusively to Channel 9's Joe Bruno.
Among the topics discussed were Harris; new Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, who has been a big critic of Trump; kneeling during the national anthem at NFL games; the pipe bombs mailed to politicians and other celebrities; and the 2020 Republican National Convention, which will be held in Charlotte.
On David Tepper’s criticism, President Donald Trump says “that’s fine.”
President Donald Trump brushed off criticism by Panthers owner David Tepper.
Tepper, the founder of Appaloosa Management, has previously referred to Trump as “the father of lies,” and recently in an interview with CNBC, said “it is dead wrong” to say NFL players aren’t patriotic.
“I think most people agree with me,” Trump said in an exclusive interview with Channel 9. “I think that is proven. I want them to stand for our great country. We want them to stand for the flag, our national anthem, and if somebody disagrees with that, that's fine. That's what we're all about. We are about freedom of expression.”
Trump disagrees with freedom of expression when it comes to players kneeling during the national anthem to protest racism and police brutality.
“They can do whatever they want, but I want people to stand,” he said. “If it is up to me, I would have them stand. I would have made that rule as commissioner.”
Trump declines to say whether gay marriage and abortion rulings should be overturned
Before the rally for 9th Congressional District candidate Mark Harris and Congressman Ted Budd, Trump praised the two as "fantastic and great people."
“They need your vote and they are very popular and we want to make sure everything works out well,” Trump said. “These are two great people and we need them.”
Prior to winning the primary, Harris was well-known in the Charlotte political realm for leading protests against gay marriage and abortion. Trump declined to say whether he agreed with Harris on the issues, but said he would be “looking at that.”
“I know he has very strong positions on things and I don't know exactly what his positions are in particular,” Trump said. “Everyone is a little different. We're going to be looking at his positions, but I can tell you he is a very popular guy in the area. They really like him a lot.”
Trump declined to say whether he hopes the Supreme Court will overturn the decisions that legalized gay marriage and abortion. The president said that will be up for the justices to decide.
“Well, they might take them up we are going to have to let the justices decide,” Trump said. “They'll be deciding. We just had a brand-new great one, Judge Gorsuch, he's fantastic. Justice Kavanagh, now. So they are going to make that decision.”
President calls pipe bombs to political critics “horrible” but “that happens”
Trump read from a teleprompter for the most part during his rally at the Bojangles’ Coliseum, but in an interview with Channel 9, he made clear he is unlikely to dramatically change his rhetoric on the campaign trail.
“We think this is horrible what took place, but that happens,” Trump said.
The president called his rallies “tremendous” and boasted about a 22,000 person attendance in Houston earlier this week.
“Better not change too much," Trump said.
In wake of the Trump supporter who was arrested for sending more than a dozen pipe bombs to Trump’s political opponents, some Trump's critics have said the president should take responsibility for the acts.
Vice President Mike Pence told ABC News Friday that Trump bears no responsibility for the attack.
Trump said, if he is responsible for the man who sent the pipe bombs, then Bernie Sanders was responsible for the man who shot Rep. Steve Scalise.
“I guess Bernie Sanders would have to take responsibility, the Democrats would have to take responsibility when people do horrible things and they are Democrats,” he said. “It is very simple. They would have to take responsibility.”
Trump then claimed nobody brings up that the Steve Scalise's shooter was a Bernie Sanders supporter, but Sen. Lindsey Graham and White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders have made similar statements in recent days.
Trump praises Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, was unaware of convention controversy
Trump claimed to be unaware of the intense debate over whether the city of Charlotte should host the 2020 Republican National Convention.
In July, Charlotte City Council narrowly approved hosting the convention after hearing from dozens of protesters and supporters.
Councilman Justin Harlow said he would no sooner support a Klan rally. Councilman Braxton Winston called Trump “a human avatar of white supremacy.”
“I didn’t hear that,” the president said on the push for Charlotte to not host the convention. “I heard they wanted it very badly in Charlotte.”
Trump claimed to speak at “the facility” quite a few times. It is unclear if he was referring to the Spectrum Center where the convention speech will be held, but Channel 9 is unaware of any speeches by Trump at that location.
Trump also predicted the 2020 Republican National Convention will bring “hundreds of millions of dollars to the state or at least something close to that.”
The 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte had an economic impact of $163 million.
“Your mayor wanted it badly,” Trump said on Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. “Your mayor is fantastic and wanted it badly and was a Democrat.”
During the rally, the president said Charlotte had a lot of competition for the convention, but during the bidding process, sources told Channel 9 that Las Vegas was only seen as the city’s major threat.
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