Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) staunchly defended former President Trump's comments about seeking "revenge" against political opponents, engaging in a heated debate with a CNN host who challenged his claims.
Senator Tim Scott, a close Trump ally, vehemently defended the former president's statements regarding "revenge" and retaliation against his political enemies. During an interview on CNN, host Abby Phillip questioned Scott about Trump's declaration that he would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Joe Biden and his family if re-elected.
Scott asserted that Trump himself had expressed the sentiment of "revenge," citing the former president's utterance that "the best revenge is success." However, Phillip countered by stating that Trump had publicly expressed plans to pursue his political opponents, a claim Scott adamantly denied.
"No, you can't correct me on this, Abby," Scott retorted. "I'm looking at the notes right here."
Phillip maintained that Trump's intentions were evident in the public record, but Scott dismissed her assertions, reiterating his firsthand account of Trump's statements.
"The bottom line is simply this," Scott declared. "Without question, President Trump has looked me in my eyes in a room full of other folks and said, 'You know what? The best revenge is success.'"
Scott went on to criticize CNN's low ratings, attributing it to their attempts to correct his account of Trump's remarks.
Phillip pressed Scott further, highlighting Trump's repeated statements about pursuing his political enemies publicly.
"I don't understand how you can deny that he has said that publicly. It's in the public record," Phillip asserted.
Scott remained resolute in his stance, refusing to accept Phillip's corrections.
"I don't know how you will not take my own word for what I heard with my own ears," Scott stated.
Trump, now the presumptive Republican nominee for president in 2024, was recently convicted on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. Despite the verdict, Trump has maintained his innocence and denounced the case as biased.
Scott, who ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is considered a potential running mate for Trump. The clash with Phillip underscores the division within the Republican Party and the challenges facing Trump as he seeks to reclaim the presidency.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt expressed confidence that Trump would emerge victorious despite the legal challenges he faced.
"Now that he is fully back on the campaign trail, Biden and the Democrats better buckle up," Leavitt said.
