EXCLUSIVE: Republican Senator Ron Johnson criticized NBC News host Chuck Todd for exhibiting “really rude and unprofessional” during a heated interview in Sunday’s edition of “Meet the Press”.
Johnson told Fox News that he agreed to appear on “Meet the Press” because he believed Todd wanted to discuss the coronavirus relief package, but was confronted with being among Republican Party senators who threatened to challenge the results of the Electoral College.
Todd opened the interview by noting that Johnson told a newspaper last month that he would not object to Electoral College certification “unless something came up” to prove President Trump’s allegations of widespread electoral fraud.
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“What has changed to put you suddenly on the side of questioning the outcome?” Todd asked
Johnson asked viewers to “really read” a letter he signed, along with other Republican lawmakers, outlining his plan to challenge President-elect Joe Biden’s victory certification until an investigation into allegations of fraud is completed.
Johnson tried to explain himself, but Todd angered the Wisconsin Republican along the way with a series of comments, including calling Johnson an “arsonist”, claiming that he helped start the “fire” that resulted in allegations of electoral fraud. Johnson immediately rejected Todd’s comments during the interview and elaborated when contacted by Fox News.
“It’s a shame that Chuck Todd has shown such rude and unprofessional behavior. I don’t care who the US senator is, but to accuse a senator of being an arsonist and putting words in my mouth – I didn’t light this fire,” Johnson told Fox News.
NBC News declined to comment on Fox News.
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Todd also insisted during the interview that Johnson has spent significant time in the past two years “carrying a lot of this crazy and conspiratorial water for President Trump” and asked if he was simply trying to “flatter” Trump supporters.
Johnson tried to answer the question, but Todd interrupted him again.
“Stop, you can’t make these claims that have not been proven true,” said Todd before explaining to Johnson why there is a judicial system to ensure electoral integrity. Todd continued to ask whether the Homeland Security Committee would hold hearings on the moon landing, which implies that rumors and allegations are apparently all it needs for Johnson to question legitimacy.
Johnson defended himself in the air and the fighting continued, but the senator thinks Todd’s explosion is simply the latest example of why Americans don’t trust the mainstream media.
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“The media lit this fire together with the Democrats and FBI members, the comeys of the world who conducted a corrupt investigation – the Democrats lied about having evidence of Trump’s collusion with Russia when behind closed doors, when testifying under oath, they perpetrated this for two years, the media carried their water, “said Johnson, referring to former FBI director James Comey.
“What shaped the situation was the left, the media, the social media that is so grossly biased that there are conservatives in America who just don’t trust the mainstream media,” said Johnson. “They don’t trust that and why should they?”
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Johnson feels that Todd and other members of the mainstream media may have unmasked some allegations of fraud, but they turn around and claim that electoral fraud does not exist at all because they wanted Trump to lose.
“They make the general statement, all of which has been discredited. No evidence, nothing to see,” said Johnson. “The press wanted Biden to win.”