SUNUNU: No, nothing.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You’re an elected official. I’m unsure whether it will influence you.
SUNUNU: Yeah. Look, no one should be surprised that the Republican government supports the Democratic president.
Do you know the true narrative behind this? The typical American who has switched from Biden to Trump, the typical American who is feeling inflation, and all other problems that say,” Look, do all this,” regardless of whether they have a judgment or not, we want a change in culture in Washington, D.C., and we’ll continue to back the former — former President Trump.
That’s the true history, right? that Trump is leading many of these surveys across the country.
Therefore, no one should be surprised by my help. What — I think the real conversation is, you know, America’s moving away from Biden. That’s how terrible Biden has become as leader. There’s just no question about it, right?
You ca n’t ignore inflation. You ca n’t ignore the border and claim that Biden’s only decision will be the outcome of these courthouse issues. It’s not going to happen that way.
STEPHANOPOULOS: As you mentioned, this is one of just many charges the former leader is facing. Perhaps the most crucial one, of training, related to January 6th.
Straight after that January 6 harm, I want to set this up on the screen, you said: It is obvious that President Trump’s speech and actions contributed to the rebellion. The local terrorists responsible for the attack on the US Capitol must be held responsible and tried.
Do you have by that speech?
SUNUNU: A hundred percent, of training. They have to been prosecuted, and they are being prosecuted. That’s fine.
I believe that he positively contributed to that through his steps. There’s no problem about that. I detest the 2020 vote for. In 2024, no one wants to become discussing that.
I think all of that was positively awful, but what people are going to be voting for, what I — what — the reason I’m supporting not just the leader, but the Republican management. That’s what this is.
They want all the regulations and laws that ounce down on the American people in Washington, along with a society of change. All the wokeness, correct? The fact that people in Washington, progressive leaders in Washington, want to have on the arms of British people who built this land, defended this nation, and teach them how to live their lives.
They’re unhappy. They’re upset. That’s the kind of cultural shift that individuals want to see.
By January 6th, people are upset. They’re upset by the vote rejection. They have every right to get, and I am, but in the end, they need a society shift to bring America back on track.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But — but wait a second straight it. Your thoughts were very, very distinct on January 11th, 2021. You said that President Trump’s language and behavior contributed to the rebellion.
No other leader has ever led the United States.
SUNUNU: Yes.
STEPHANOPOULOS: — has contributed to an uprising.
But, please explain, given the fact that you believe he contributed to an insurrection, how you can suggest we should have him back in the Oval Office?
SUNUNU: It’s never — because for me, it’s not about him as much as it is having a Republican leadership — Republican secretaries, Republican rules, a feeling where states’ rights come initially, specific rights come first, parents ‘ rights come second.
We’re going to include a pro- organization economy. We wo n’t have a culture of” cancellation” that has truly permeated every region of America.
It’s not about Trump with me. It’s about bringing those who already live to be free or death.
(CROSSTALK)
STEPHANOPOULOS: But he will be the leader. You’re saying —
SUNUNU: I’m the government of the live completely or kill state, bringing that culture again.
STEPHANOPOULOS: That does n’t make any sense to me, Governor. I’m sad. You’re saying it’s not about Trump. You’re saying — he would be the leader, and you’ve said he’s an insu — someone who’s contributed to an uprising.
SUNUNU: I understand it does n’t make sense to you, George, but look at the polls. You’re telling me that you do n’t understand why 51 % of this nation supports Donald Trump.
They’re not mad. They’re certainly Do liberals. They’re never fanatics. They want lifestyle shift. But, I appreciate —
(CROSSTALK)
STEPHANOPOULOS: Governor, I’m never talking — I’m no talking—
SUNUNU: The bigger problem is —
STEPHANOPOULOS: I’m never talking about elections. I’m asking you a very simple problem. You believe Donald Trump contributed to an uprising. That’s right, right?
SUNUNU: I stand by the speech.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You stand by the assertion that he contributed to an uprising.
SUNUNU: Seem, his words — he — his words—
(CROSSTALK)
And you think someone should be elected leader once if they helped spark an uprising? STEPHANOPOULOS:
SUNUNU: As does 51 percentage of America, George. I mean, actually.
I understand you’re part of the internet. You’re in this New York City bubbles, or whatever it is, but you’ve got to glance around what’s happening in other parts of the country. They’re never — it’s not about simply supporting Trump. It’s getting off of what we have now.
It’s about understanding prices is crushing people. It’s understood that this borders problem is not one of Texas. It’s a 50- express matter, correctly, that has to be brought under control.
The typical American is really sick and tired of that kind of snobbishness. And it’s a lifestyle shift. That’s what I’m supporting. That’s what most of America straight now is looking to support, and wants to change it.
That’s — so, again, I know you’re shocked that the Republican governor is supporting a Democratic senator and the Republican solution, but it’s about the solution. It’s about up and down the vote, correct? I want Democratic governors and senators and congressmen, and that type of culture, if you will. I return to that because that’s what it is. That’s the shift America is looking for. And they’re never relitigating January 6th. It’s certainly a major concern.
If you ask the average American, is January 6 a major concern and you go on the ballot field, not even in the top five. It does n’t mean it’s not — it was n’t a significant point, does n’t mean we were n’t extremely disappointed by his words and actions, does n’t mean we — you know, that we tap into this election denialism, which I believe very — very — I think it’s terrible what he’s done on the election denial.
But once, it’s not a major concern. People are voting on what’s happening in their houses, what’s happening with prices, what’s happening on the frontier, right? That’s true, and that’s what they’re going to voting for, but —
STEPHANOPOULOS: But, you’re against the vote for which the president — former president repeated last night. You think he was a factor in the rebellion on January 6th. You think it makes no difference if he is found guilty in the Manhattan situation.
He’s also facing another prosecution over defined records. Originally, you’ve said these costs are severe and Trump may drop out of the race if he’s convicted. Do you still think that’s true?
SUNUNU: Well, appearance, in a major — appearance, we fought difficult in the main. We got behind Nikki. This conflict is what Nikki Haley, I, and another warned was going to cause for Trump. That it’s just a perfect diversion. I prefer Republicans running on the campaign trail to engage in actual conversation more than, you know, having to discuss this subject. It’s a perfect diversion.
It does n’t mean he’s going to lose and it does n’t people are n’t going to support the Republican ticket because, right now, it looks like they are. But, that’s the diversion we’re all trying to avoid.
(CROSSTALK)
STEPHANOPOULOS: But, I’m asking you a unique problem. I’m asking you a different topic. You previously said that he should fall out if he is found guilty in the case involving classified documents, but I’m asking you a different problem. Do you still think that’s true?
SUNUNU: No. No. No. He’s going to fall out after being the candidate? Of course, no. You know, that’s not to become expected at all. All of these instances, by the way, the average American, it’s on confused, right? We watched this thing. We watch the information. The typical British views it more like reality TV. I’m not saying it’s not; of training, there are real issues it. But, there’s plainly politicians to keep in some of these instances, that is obvious.
The typical American believes that at this level, it’s more real TV and a man being prosecuted. He plays that target card very, very nicely. His poll results simply come up with this data. But to believe that this is some sort of deal break, again, I’ll go back to where I started where people are going to say, sure, if he’s convicted I’m walking away. That’s just not going to happen. At the end of the day, they want the Republican Party’s society changed, and if Trump is elected as the standard bearer, the voters will decide that he will be the common carrier that we’ll consider it if we have to, not what I did, but what the voters will need. That’s how seriously America wants a lifestyle change.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So just to sum up, you may help him for president also if he is convicted in classified records. Even though you think he contributed to an insurrection, you still think you had back him for leader. Even though you think he’s lying about the last vote, you still think you’d back him for leader. Even if he was found guilty in the Manhattan event, you may still vote for him for president. I just want to say, the truth to that is well, right?
SUNUNU: Yes, me and 51 percentage of America.
