In response to a question on the criminal investigation by Manhattan DA Alvin Brag during an unofficial press gathering, former President Donald Trump reportedly grabbed an NBC reporter’s phone and demanded that he be taken off his plane, according to recently discovered recordings.
The argumentative discussion, which was first made public by Vanity Fair, took place on March 25 in Waco, Texas, following Trump’s campaign speech. NBC News reporter Vaughn Hillyard made the comment that the leading Republican candidate for 2024 appeared “frustrated” by Bragg’s probe while the candidate was interacting with a group of reporters aboard his jet. Trump appeared to be upset by the query because he urged the reporter not to ask “any more questions.”
“I’m not frustrated by anything,” Trump replied, according to a recording obtained by the Washington Post. “What am I, frustrated? I just did a speech for two hours. I’m not frustrated by it. It’s a fake investigation. We did nothing wrong. I told you that. … It’s the exact opposite. This is fake news, and NBC is one of the worst at it. Don’t ask me any more questions,” he said.
“I heard you’re a nice guy from NBC, but you’re not,” Trump later added.
Hillyard allegedly attempted to ask Trump another question regarding Bragg’s inquiry after over 30 minutes had passed.
“I don’t want to talk to you. You’re not a nice guy,” Trump said.
A source familiar with the situation told Vanity Fair that when Hillyard continued to ask his question, an irate Trump reportedly grabbed the reporter’s two phones from the table in front of him and threw them to the side.
In the audio clip that was obtained, Trump is heard directing his staff to “Get him out of here.”
“Let’s go, get him out of here. Out of here. Out of here,” he said.
The journalists were then led off, according to the Washington Post. Hillyard may have been removed from Trump’s aircraft, but Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung assured the publication that “no negative incidents” involving journalists have ever taken place on his aircraft.
An NBC reporter claims that former president Donald Trump snatched his phone and ordered him off of his flight.
The conversation took place a few days before the former president was charged with falsifying financial records in relation to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016 and later appeared in court in New York City.
Trump, who is the front-runner among Republicans for the presidency in 2024, has referred to the inquiry as “political persecution and election interference at the highest level in history.”
