ABC’s George Stephanopoulos has become an arch-enemy of Trump’s, responsible for a massive settlement given to Trump for mischaracterizing Trump.
Even though ABC got smacked with a settlement, he still goes after Trump with everything he has.
That is what made it so satisfying to see Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent drop a truth bomb on him during an interview this weekend.
Not a lot of people today even realize that Stephanopoulos was a major player in the Bill Clinton administration.
He started on the communications team, but quickly slid over to a top advisor role for Clinton.
At the time, the GOP was trying to get a tax cut passed, with Newt Gingrich as the Speaker of the House.
There were actually two shutdowns, one that lasted just a few days, and a second that went from December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996.
If you think nasty rhetoric is something new, Stephanopoulos was throwing it around nearly three decades ago, comparing the GOP to terrorists.
Stephanopoulos, at the time, explained, "Our strategy was very simple. We couldn’t buckle, and we had to say that they were blackmailing the country to get their way.”
He continued, “In order to get their tax cut, they were willing to shut down the government, throw the country into default for the first time in its history and cut Medicare, Social Security, education and the environment just so they could get their way. And we were trying to say that they were basically terrorists, and it worked.”
Funny how Speaker Johnson (R-LA) called the Democrats “legislative terrorists” and Rep. Jeffries (D-N.Y.) accused him of trying to get Democrats killed. I really wish Johnson had referenced Stephanopoulos’ comment from the Clinton era when he made it.
Bessent was doing the Sunday morning circuit this week, and Stephanopoulos went right after him on the shutdown.
Bessent stated, "The best way to do it -- and look, you were involved in a lot of these in the ’90s. And, you know, you basically called the Republicans terrorists and, you know, you said that it is not the responsible party that keeps the government closed. And so, what we need is five brave, moderate Democratic senators to cross the aisle, because right now it is 52–3, 52–3. Five Democrats can cross the aisle and reopen the government. That’s the best way to do it, George."
Stephanopoulos came right back at him, "I can disagree with you about the history there, but we don’t have a history lesson right now.” The history is in that quote, and Bessent offered to read it in full to him on the air.
Once again, Democrats have been caught trying to rewrite history, but Bessent had the receipts. This was an exceptional job of anticipation on his part, and other administration officials would be well served to do their research before an interview to call out these hypocrites like Bessent just did to Stephanopoulos.
