Trump says he could pursue Clintons, Obama, Biden if Democrats impeach him again
In a Newsmax interview, Trump said he could go after Hillary and Bill Clinton and Barack Obama criminally or damage their reputations, claiming he has "a lot of information", while saying he probably would not.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2In an interview with Newsmax host Rob Finnerty on Thursday, President Donald Trump said he could still pursue criminal investigations against Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Anadolu AgencyN “Trump said Thursday he could still pursue criminal investigations against former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “during an interview with Rob Finnerty on Newsmax's Finnerty on Thursday” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2Trump said he had previously held back, telling Finnerty: "I could have done numbers on Hillary Clinton... I could do big numbers if I wanted to." Asked what he meant, he said he could "go after them criminally" or "destroy their reputations". Anadolu AgencyN “Asked what he meant by “big numbers,” Trump said he could “go after them criminally” or “destroy their reputations.”” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “"I could have done numbers on Hillary Clinton," Trump said.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1He claimed to have "a lot of information" about Hillary Clinton, Obama and former President Joe Biden, whom he called "Sleepy Joe Biden"; he gave no evidence and did not say what the information involved. The Jerusalem PostRC “We have a lot of information on Sleepy Joe Biden.”“he did not provide evidence or specify what the information involved” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Mixed · 2Asked whether he intended to act, Trump said "I guess not. Probably not," but added that things could change if Democrats impeach him again; Anadolu said he then changed the subject. The Jerusalem PostRC “Well, I mean, I guess not. Probably not. But I think if they impeach me again” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “suggested he was unlikely to pursue the former officials, adding that he could face impeachment again before changing the subject” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Right · 1The Jerusalem Post links the remarks to the November 3 midterm elections, saying Trump suggested he could reconsider if Democrats win Congress and launch a third impeachment effort. The Jerusalem PostRC “if Democrats regain control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections and launch another impeachment attempt” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1Democratic leaders have not committed to impeachment: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said last month the party had neither ruled it out nor committed to it, and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar said it is not a top priority. The Jerusalem PostRC “House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said last month that Democrats had neither ruled out nor committed to another impeachment effort” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1Trump, impeached twice in his first term and acquitted both times, said "The only thing they can impeach me for is making our country really strong" and described an "anti-impeachment movement". He made similar remarks at an Oval Office event on October 7. The Jerusalem PostRC “The only thing they can impeach me for is making our country really strong”“The president made similar remarks during an Oval Office event on October 7” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Centre · 1Anadolu, citing The Hill, places the remarks amid criticism of prosecutions of perceived Trump opponents, including charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, two indictments of former FBI Director James Comey (the first dismissed over an unlawful prosecutor appointment), a grand jury's rejection of charges against six Democratic lawmakers, and probes of Sen. Adam Schiff, Jerome Powell and Lisa Cook. It also notes John Bolton's June guilty plea over retaining sensitive documents. Anadolu AgencyN “The remarks come amid criticism of the Trump administration over criminal investigations and prosecutions involving perceived political opponents.”“Prosecutors tried to indict six Democratic lawmakers for releasing a video that urged military personnel to disobey illegal orders, but a grand jury rejected the charges.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Anadolu frames the remarks as a threat to target opponents and sets them against a record of prosecutions of Trump critics.
- Emphasis
- Criminal cases against Comey, James, Bolton and others; Trump's lack of detail and his suggestion he was unlikely to act.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the midterm elections or Democratic leaders' statements on impeachment.
- Charged language
- “destroy their reputations”
- For example
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“The remarks come amid criticism of the Trump administration over criminal investigations and prosecutions involving perceived political opponents.” — Anadolu Agency
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Jerusalem Post frames the remarks as conditional on a Democratic impeachment push after the midterms, with the political context of impeachment.
- Emphasis
- Impeachment politics, the midterms, Jeffries and Aguilar's statements, and Trump's 'anti-impeachment' argument.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the prosecutions of Trump's opponents.
- Charged language
- “Things could get ugly”“Trump claims to possess damaging information on Democratic rivals”
- For example
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“Trump weighs pursuing action against Clinton, Obama if Democrats renew impeachment efforts” — The Jerusalem Post
“Democratic leaders have not committed to pursuing impeachment if their party regains control of the House of Representatives.” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- Trump spoke to Newsmax's Rob Finnerty on Thursday.
- He said he could go after Hillary Clinton and Obama criminally or destroy their reputations.
- He gave no details of the information and suggested he probably would not act.
Donald Trump person
Says he held back from pursuing opponents, could still do 'big numbers', but probably won't; he casts impeachment as groundless.
“The only thing they can impeach me for is making our country really strong” — The Jerusalem Post
“I turned down going after Hillary Clinton.” — Anadolu Agency
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Trump says he could still target Clintons, Obama
Critical Presents the remarks against a backdrop of prosecutions of Trump's perceived opponents.
Right1 article
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Trump weighs pursuing action against Clinton, Obama if Democrats renew impeachment efforts
Neutral Reports the interview as a conditional statement tied to impeachment and the midterms, with Democratic leaders' positions.
- 17 Oct 02:12 First The Jerusalem PostRC Trump weighs pursuing action against Clinton, Obama if Democrats renew impeachment efforts
- 17 Oct 11:10 +8h 58m Anadolu AgencyN Trump says he could still target Clintons, Obama
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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