CNN anchor Victor Blackwell confronted a member of President Trump’s campaign advisory board on Saturday after the adviser claimed that Trump has never incited violence during his rallies.
Steve Rogers appeared on CNN as the president faces criticism for posting an edited video on Twitter splicing Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-Minn.) remarks on 9/11 with images of the Twin Towers burning.{mosads}
Rogers said that Trump supporters would “never, ever” endorse violence and added that Trump is not responsible for the actions of other people.
”The president is not responsible for his words? If he incites violence, is he not responsible for those words?” Blackwell asked.
Rogers said that he had been to Trump rallies and traveled with his team.
“He has never incited violence. He has never, ever suggested that people should commit violent acts against each other,” the adviser said.
Blackwell pushed back, calling the statement “absolutely untrue.”
“There is video. We have seen the president say that, with the good ole days people would be taken out in stretchers at his rallies during the 2016 campaign,” Blackwell said. “We have seen him say what he would like to do is punch somebody in the face. We have seen him promise to pay for legal bills for people if they were to attack a protester at a rally. What you are saying there simply is not true.”
Rogers later shared video of his CNN appearance on Twitter, arguing that the host “could not refute my answers.”
Trump has been accused by Democrats of inciting violence against Omar after he released a video on Friday hammering her comment from a speech last month in which, while discussing 9/11, she remarked that “some people did something.”
Omar has noted that in context she was talking about how in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks some equated all Muslims with terrorists. She has called GOP criticism of her remark “dangerous incitement,” as it came days after a New York man was arrested for allegedly making death threats against her.
“This is dangerous incitement, given the death threats I face. I hope leaders of both parties will join me in condemning it,” she tweeted alongside screen shots depicting critics’ remarks. “My love and commitment to our country and that of my colleagues should never be in question. We are ALL Americans!”
Several 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have also come to her defense after Trump released the video showing the Twin Towers burning, while Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) slammed Trump for launching a “political attack.”