Trump: RNC chairman ‘probably’ leaked call
Donald Trump said in an interview airing late Thursday that Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus “probably” leaked details of a call between the pair this week.
“I just don’t know how the story got out,” Trump, a 2016 Republican presidential candidate, said of the pair’s call in the interview on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” according to a transcript.
“Nobody called us for verification and honestly, I can’t blame him unless he gave out the story, which is possible. Probably he did,” Trump said, according to the transcript.
{mosads}An RNC representative did not immediately respond to an inquiry about Trump’s latest comments.
Trump acknowledged earlier Thursday the RNC chairman had suggested in a call that the businessman should “tone it down” regarding his controversial comments on immigration.
The celebrity real estate developer reiterated in his interview on Fox News that the call from Priebus on Wednesday was congratulatory overall and largely positive in nature.
“He called, Sean, very simply to say, ‘unbelievable’ – that he has never seen anything quite like it, and he just couldn’t have been nicer,” Trump told host Sean Hannity.
Trump has rocketed toward the top of a crowded Republican field in recent polls but has seen broken business ties and an outcry from Latino groups for his June 16 remarks on immigrants.
The reality TV star has since doubled down on his comments that the Mexican government is sending “criminals” and “drug dealers” to the United States instead of dealing with them in their country.
The Washington Post reported Wednesday night that Priebus called Trump and spent “nearly an hour” on the phone urging Trump to tone down his remarks on immigration.
The Post based its report of the call on descriptions from donors and consultants. The New York Times also reported on the call, and the RNC confirmed the call to both newspapers.
Responding to the reports Thursday, Trump sent a tweet blasting “false reporting” and said in an interview with the Times that the call was closer to “15 minutes.”
Still, Trump praised the RNC chairman for his efforts on behalf of the Republican Party.
“He had a big loss last time and I think he wants to have a win this time, and I’m the one that will win,” Trump told Fox News. “We want to make America great. I know how to do it, and politicians do not know how to do it.”
Trump said he would “certainly try” to be himself and act presidential, saying, “You have to be tough, you have to be smart.”
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