On Tuesday, all three network morning shows denounced Donald Trump’s campaign ad going after Bill Clinton’s treatment of women as a “another low” in the presidential race and parroted Hillary Clinton’s campaign talking points dismissing numerous sex abuse allegations against her husband as “old” and “discredited.”
On NBC’s Today, co-host Matt Lauer warned the 2016 campaign was “getting even nastier,” followed soon after by correspondent Peter Alexander proclaiming: “It’s only May but this race is hitting another low. Donald Trump's latest attacks on the Clintons revisiting decades-old allegations of sexual misconduct against Bill Clinton that Fox News host Bill O'Reilly called ‘tawdry.’”
After playing a soundbite of Trump “defending his relentless attacks on both Hillary and Bill Clinton” on O’Reilly’s show Monday night, Alexander scolded: “The latest attack, seemingly unprovoked, digging up President Clinton's old sex scandals, including the voice of Monica Lewinsky. This salacious video posted by Trump on Instagram, superimposing Clinton over past accusations of sexual misconduct that Clinton has repeatedly denied.”
Moments later, he touted: “Hillary Clinton's aides insisting she won't, quote, ‘follow Trump into the gutter.’” A clip ran of her spokesman Brian Fallon on With All Due Respect asserting: “Hillary Clinton is not going to go for that. She can’t – she can’t be syked out. This is somebody who has a steel backbone.”
At the top of ABC’s Good Morning America, co-host George Stephanopoulos announced: “Donald Trump unleashes a scathing attack on Bill Clinton launching a new ad about the former President's problems with women.” In the later report, correspondent Tom Llamas fretted over “attacks escalating” between the candidates and ripped the GOP contender’s ad: “The image, Bill Clinton smoking a cigar and other women who've accused the former president of sexual misconduct in discredited or unsubstantiated cases, including Juanita Broaddrick.”
In a discussion following the report, Stephanopoulos teed up Clinton supporter Cokie Roberts to predict political damage for Trump for daring to bring up the scandals.
On CBS This Morning, co-host Gayle King declared: “Donald Trump is getting personal with his attacks on the Clintons” and “bringing back old allegations against former President Bill Clinton.” Correspondent Major Garrett brushed aside the claims: “On Monday, Trump released an internet video again highlighting unproven sexual assault allegations against former President Bill Clinton.”
On Monday, ABC’s World News Tonight and NBC Nightly News both complained about Trump’s latest criticism of the Clintons.
Here are excerpts of the May 24 coverage on the three morning shows:
Today
7:00 AM ET TEASE:
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Taking shots. Donald Trump defends his new attack ad focused on Bill Clinton's past, while Hillary Clinton slams Trump's business record.
HILLARY CLINTON: How can anybody lose money running a casino, really?
7:04 AM ET SEGMENT:
MATT LAUER: In the presidential race, things getting even nastier between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, while Bernie Sanders takes shots at both of them in a new interview with NBC News. We have it all covered, starting with NBC national correspondent, Peter Alexander. Peter, good morning to you.
PETER ALEXANDER: Hi, Matt, good morning. It’s only May but this race is hitting another low. Donald Trump's latest attacks on the Clintons revisiting decades-old allegations of sexual misconduct against Bill Clinton that Fox News host Bill O'Reilly called “tawdry.”
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Trump Zeroes in on Clintons; Posts Lewinsky Voice in New Attack on Fmr. President]
ALEXANDER: Donald Trump on the offensive, defending his relentless attacks on both Hillary and Bill Clinton.
DONALD TRUMP [FOX NEWS]: They're dirty players, they’ve been dirty players historically and I have to fight back the way I have to fight back.
ALEXANDER: The latest attack, seemingly unprovoked, digging up President Clinton's old sex scandals, including the voice of Monica Lewinsky. This salacious video posted by Trump on Instagram, superimposing Clinton over past accusations of sexual misconduct that Clinton has repeatedly denied.
Three of those accusers joining conservative commentator Sean Hannity’s radio show, Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, and Juanita Broaddrick, who had this to say.
JUANITA BROADDRICK: And I'm so appreciative to Donald Trump for bringing it. I couldn't. It's very difficult for me to bring it forward because it's still too painful.
ALEXANDER: Hillary Clinton's aides insisting she won't, quote, “follow Trump into the gutter.”
BRIAN FALLON [WITH ALL DUE RESPECT]: Hillary Clinton is not going to go for that. She can’t – she can’t be syked out. This is somebody who has a steel backbone.
HILLARY CLINTON: The last thing we need is a bully in the pulpit.
(...)
GMA
7:00 AM ET TEASE:GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Donald Trump unleashes a scathing attack on Bill Clinton launching a new ad about the former President's problems with women.
DONALD TRUMP: You know, they're dirty players and have been dirty players historically and I have to fight back the way I have to fight back.
STEPHANOPOULOS: While Hillary Clinton lashes out at trump warning the billionare could bankrupt America.
7:07 AM ET SEGMENT:
STEPHANOPOULOS: We’re going to go to the race for the White House and everything on the table. Donald Trump has released a scathing new video targeting Bill Clinton and women and the Clinton camp is going after Trump's record in business. ABC's Tom Llamas tracking it all. Good morning, Tom.
TOM LLAMAS: George, good morning to you. The attacks escalating. Both campaigns digging deep to expose past scandals and now Trump even discussing the suicide of a close Clinton friend. Overnight, Donald Trump claiming he has no other choice but to go after former President Bill Clinton's sex scandals.
TRUMP: You know they're dirty players. They've been dirty players historically and I have to fight back the way I have to fight back.
LLAMAS: Trump posting this video on Instagram.
MONICA LEWINSKY: I was very nervous.
LLAMAS: That's the voice of Monica Lewinsky. The image, Bill Clinton smoking a cigar and other women who've accused the former president of sexual misconduct in discredited or unsubstantiated cases including Juanita Broaddrick Then, the video cuts to Hillary laughing. The Clinton campaign says the allegations are from two decades ago and Trump's play, a bad strategy.
HILLARY CLINTON: The last thing we need is a bully in the pulpit.
(...)
CBS This Morning
7:10 AM ETGAYLE KING: Donald Trump is getting personal with his attacks on the Clintons. The presumptive nominee is bringing back old allegations against former President bill Clinton. The attacks follow Donald Trump's meeting with the Senate Foreign Relations chairman yesterday in New York. Major Garrett looks at Trump's strategy, mixing policy and personal attacks.
MAJOR GARRETT: Good morning. Besides senator Bob corker, Donald Trump has also sought advice from two former secretaries of state. Polls are showing most Republicans have begun to fall in line behind Donald Trump. That's why the presumptive nominee is also attracting more and more support from the party’s biggest donors.
DONALD TRUMP: Much rather have policy and issues.
MAJOR GARRETT: Donald Trump plays issues and attacks with equal emphasis.
DONALD TRUMP: They're dirty players. They've been dirty players historically. I have to fight back the way I have to fight back.
MAJOR GARRETT: On Monday, trump released an internet video again highlighting unproven sexual assault allegations against former president Bill Clinton.
(...)
