MSNBC host Tamron Hall pushed Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in a Thursday interview to give a straight answer on how the GOP could embrace Donald Trump as its presumptive presidential nominee, arguing it was “a little late” for the party to become “curious” about his unorthodox policy proposals.
Blackburn evaded a string of Hall’s questions about Trump’s proposals to stabilize social security spending, potentially raise the minimum wage and increase taxes on the wealthy, saying she hadn’t “had a conversation with him” on those subjects. That prompted Hall to probe why Blackburn has been saying she wants to speak with Trump more and get to know him better.
“I’m wondering about the curiosity,” Hall said. “There seems to have not been curiosity about the person who has been leading in the votes for a very long time. Donald Trump did not happen overnight. You have yourself, and Speaker Ryan, all trying to get to know him now.”
“I’ve known Mr. Trump for several years,” Blackburn replied.
“Why weren’t you curious about him what he was saying before? Why the curiosity?” Hall pressed.
“I think what you’re wanting—you’re asking for is pin down a specific policy,” Blackburn said. “I’m saying, let’s give the House leadership—There are a lot of folks up here who don’t know Mr. Trump as well as I have gotten to know Mr. Trump. I think he is going to be the next president of the United States and he he would be an incredible president of the United States.”
“But a few minutes ago you said you still need to get to know him and sit down and talk to him. Which is it? You’re either familiar with his policies and where he stands—” Hall said, before Blackburn interrupted.
“That is not what I said and you know that,” the congresswoman shot back. “I said that let’s give him and Speaker Ryan—they’ve had a good statement. They are going to develop these policies and it’s going to be a great campaign in the fall. Mr. Trump has wonderful people working with him. They are working very quickly. Bear in mind, he has not been in the halls of Congress. He has been out running companies—”
“He’s been on the campaign trail for months speaking to your base,” Hall pointed out.
The tense interview came as Trump met with Republican congressional leaders, including Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), on Capitol Hill. The pair sent out a statement following their meeting that called it a “positive first step” toward uniting the party.
MSNBC played live shots of Trump departing the meeting as Hall and Blackburn parried back and forth. The interview ended abruptly after Blackburn was shown fiddling with her ear piece and saying, “I’m losing you again, I am just so sorry.”
“Okay,” Hall said, smiling. “Her ear piece fell out.”
