NBC host Chuck Todd tore into Sen. Ron Johnson after he felt that the Wisconsin Republican walked back comments he had made earlier in the week about President Trump’s relationship with Ukraine.
Todd introduced the segment with Johnson by sharing a quote the senator gave to the Wall Street Journal that indicated Johnson was not comfortable with the idea Trump may have held back military aid from Ukraine if they did not probe U.S. elections. “At that suggestion, I winced,” Johnson said in the Wednesday piece. “My reaction was: Oh, God. I don’t want to see those two things combined.”
After Todd shared the quote, Johnson dismissed the notion that he does not support Trump and accused the NBC host of bias. Johnson went on to defend the president and asserted that he had never gotten a fair chance from Democrats since the day he was elected.
Johnson went on to cite text messages between former FBI agent Peter Strzok and attorney Lisa Page, which enraged Todd. “What does this have to do with Ukraine?” Todd sharply interjected.
Johnson then attempted to explain his position about how the text messages, which were turned over to the House Intelligence Committee as possible evidence during the Robert Mueller investigation, related to Trump’s dealings with Ukraine.
Todd interrupted again. “Senator Johnson, please!” Todd exclaimed in frustration. “Can we please answer the question that I asked you, instead of trying to make Donald Trump feel better here that you’re not criticizing him?! I’m just trying to ask a simple question of what made you wince?”
“Because I didn’t want those connected … When I asked the president about that, he completely denied it. He adamantly denied it. He vehemently, angrily denied it. He said, ‘I’d never do that.'”
