Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), director of the House Republican Conference, defended her backing of former president Donald Trump during” Fox News Sunday,” despite a 2022 New York Times article suggesting that the New York State Republican congresswoman had a plan to reinvent herself.
Stefanik resisted Bream’s concerns about elements of the content. She called it a “disgrace” that Carp do mention it.
Carp: I want to talk to you about the veepstakes. Your title is continually thrown out as being on the list, possible, that this journey properly be part of an interview. According to the New York Times, you have gone from being staunch supporters of President Trump to being flatly supportive of him in a long article.
They claim you once called him a kick work. They add this. She claimed that his candidacy may harm the group’s efforts to recruit female voters by saying,” In August 2015, she told a New York radio station, he was “insulting to people.” According to her former buddies,’ they continue,’ she thought Mr. Trump was very terrible and absurd to be taken seriously. Her sophistry however annoys those who have known her the longest and who recall the contempt she had for Mr. Trump in those days.
So the question is when? More importantly, why did you change your thinking about President Trump?
STEFANIK: Well, Shannon, it’s a humiliation that you would estimate The New York Times with lonely, impersonal, false sources.
Rockfish: But they’re quoting your companions, so I’m giving you a chance to listen to that.
STEFANIK: No, no, no, Shannon — Shannon — Shannon, they’re no quoting my companions. Because they are fake insinuations, those brands are not included. I was criticized as the only Republican in the —
BREAM: There — to be honest, there are a number of names of people who are quoted in the content.
(CROSSTALK)
STEFANIK: Shannon, letting me right you.
Rockfish: People can read it for themselves.
STEFANIK: This is a — this is a fake slander, and let me tell you, let me tell you a truth, Shannon. I received criticism for being the only Northeastern Republican to have supported President Trump in 2016. For that reason, Democrats have criticized me for spending hundreds of thousands of dollars. So to say that I did n’t support him is just false.
I’ve always believed that he is one of the most powerful people in the House, even when he ran for it in 2016 as my first re-election. He has received my utmost support. He will be the country’s second leader. The people of America are aware of that. That is well known to my electorate. And I’m happy to be one of his most powerful friends in Congress.
I have always put my neighborhood first, New York 21 second, and America first. And this is an option for us to put an end to Joe Biden’s problems and choose a leader who helped to create a strong national security and a booming business.
Rockfish: I understand—
STEFANIK: But my history speaks for itself, Shannon.
Rockfish: — where you are now. But let me beg you, though —
STEFANIK: My report stands for itself.
Carp: OK, let me ask you, though, because they quote you on a television station calling him insulting to people. Is that a misrepresent? Did you not claim that?
STEFANIK: I said the statement that the Democrats leaked out in 2016 that that was disrespectful. But, Shannon, I stood by and supported him. And I firmly back him. And he has done a lot to advance women in top positions and advance women’s financial opportunities that we saw during his four years in office.
I’m happy to back him, then. I was the only Republican-elective lady from the Northeast who voted for him in 2016; it’s a shame that you would read bad quotes from a” New York Times” article and read negative comments.
Carp: Fine.
STEFANIK: — who has clearly supported him. And I’m happy to be one of his most powerful friends right now.
Carp: Fine. We know where you are today. Folks can go read that article for themselves. There are plenty of names, people who went on the record. And we’ll leave it there. Clearly, you are supportive of him now. And we will track and follow where you are on the campaign trail.
STEFANIK: As I was friendly of him then.
Carp: Fine.
STEFANIK: As I was friendly of him then, Shannon. As you know, in 2016, I hope you will also let people realize that I voted for him in 2016 and received criticism for doing so.
Carp: Congresswoman, we often appreciate your time. Safe moves.
STEFANIK: Cheers.
