Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin joined CNBC Tuesday for what turned into an oddly contentious and hostile interview.
Things got off to a rocky start when CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera opened the interview with the none-too-flattering introduction, “We’re having you on, not because we think you can win the presidency, but because you are rising in the polls enough in Utah that there’s a threat that those electoral votes don’t actually go to the Republican.”
McMullin, who is leading Trump in Utah 31 percent to 27, according to a recent Emerson College survey, laughed off the introduction and proceeded to his main talking points, namely, that he’s the genuine conservative alternative to GOP nominee Donald Trump.
“[Trump] is not going to beat Hillary Clinton, unless something truly dramatic and incredible happens,” McMullin said, referencing the numerous of election models showing the Republican candidate loses.
Trump is an “absolutely terrible candidate,” who is “deeply flawed and corrupt” and stands “no chance” of defeating the Democratic nominee, he added.
CNBC host Joe Kernen was not at all happy to hear this from McMullin, and proceeded to push back on the idea that Trump doesn’t stand a change against Clinton.
“It’s likely that you’re right, but you don’t know,” Kernen said, adding we may as well just call off the entire election.
McMullin responded by pointing again to the numerous election models showing Clinton wins on Nov. 8, and said, “You can deny that all you want, like the Trump supporters, but that’s the reality.”
Kernen switched up his line of criticism, and then accused McMullin stealing votes away from Trump and making it “harder to stop Hillary Clinton.”
“So I’m taking votes away from Donald Trump?” McMullin laughed. “He might be the Republican, but he’s no conservative.”
McMullin continued, and characterized Trump’s candidacy as “bigoted,” “misogynistic” and “xenophobic,” adding that the Republican nominee “has divided this country even during this race.”
Trump “has done enormous harm to our country,” he said.
