On Thursday’s NBC Today, correspondent Ron Allen promoted President Obama blasting Donald Trump in the wake of NBC’s Commander-in-Chief Forum: “It didn't take much for President Obama to weigh in. At a closing news conference he was asked about those comments that Donald Trump made about our generals being reduced to rubble and about Vladimir Putin being a better leader than President Obama.”
A soundbite ran of Obama not only attacking the Republican nominee, but also calling on the media to tear down the businessman: “I don't think the guy’s qualified to be President of the United States. And every time he speaks, that opinion is confirmed. And I think the most important thing for the public and the press is to just listen to what he says and follow up and ask questions about what appear to be either contradictory or uninformed or outright wacky ideas.”
Allen told viewers to “Expect more of that next week when President Obama heads to battleground Pennsylvania” to campaign for Hillary Clinton.
In a news brief at the top of the 8 a.m. ET hour, co-host Savannah Guthrie reiterated: “...the President said that every time Trump speaks, according to the President, he confirms that he is not qualified to not be commander-in-chief. And the President urged public and the media to follow-up on what he called Trump's contradictory, uninformed, or in his words, ‘outright wacky ideas.’”
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Both ABC’s Good Morning America and CBS This Morning highlighted Obama hammering Trump, but not his scolding of the press.
On GMA:
CECILIA VEGA: And this morning, President Obama is weighing in from overseas, saying Trump is not ready for the Oval Office.
BARACK OBAMA: I don't think the guy's qualified to be President of the United States. And every time he speaks, that opinion is confirmed.
VEGA: Well, you heard it there, the President is in Laos and he is really blasting Donald Trump this morning. He said the Republican candidate has, quote, “either contradictory or uninformed or outright wacky ideas.” George?
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Not holding back at all, Cecilia, thanks very much.
On This Morning:
CHARLIE ROSE: President Obama fired back this morning after Donald Trump attacked his policies at a foreign policy forum in New York. Trump and Hillary Clinton appeared back-to-back on the same stage last night to answer questions.
NORAH O’DONNELL: Trump accused President Obama of ignoring intelligence experts’ advice and he called Russia's president a better leader. Our Margaret Brennan asked the President about that this morning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Firing Back at Trump; President: “I Don’t Think the Guy’s Qualified”]
BARACK OBAMA: I don't think the guy’s qualified to be President of the United States. And every time he speaks, that opinion is confirmed.
Here is a full transcript of the coverage on Today:
7:16 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Meantime, the President is wrapping up a week-long trip to Asia this morning and weighing in on Donald Trump's comments at our forum last night. Let's go to NBC's Ron Allen, he’s been traveling with the President. Ron, good morning.
RON ALLEN: It didn't take much for President Obama to weigh in. At a closing news conference he was asked about those comments that Donald Trump made about our generals being reduced to rubble and about Vladimir Putin being a better leader than President Obama. Here's what the President had to say.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: President Obama Slams Trump; Says Nominee Not Qualified to be President]
BARACK OBAMA: I don't think the guy’s qualified to be President of the United States. And every time he speaks, that opinion is confirmed. And I think the most important thing for the public and the press is to just listen to what he says and follow up and ask questions about what appear to be either contradictory or uninformed or outright wacky ideas.
ALLEN: Expect more of that next week when President Obama heads to battleground Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia suburbs. The first of several campaign stops, solo stops, for Hillary Clinton, targeting the voters who put him over the top, voters he’s trying to get excited for Hillary Clinton. Savannah?
GUTHRIE: Alright, Ron Allen, thank you.
(...)
8:05 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Meantime, President Obama is reacting sharply this morning to Trump's criticism of his leadership and the state of the U.S. military. At a news conference wrapping up his trip to Asia, the President said that every time Trump speaks, according to the President, he confirms that he is not qualified to not be commander-in-chief. And the President urged public and the media to follow-up on what he called Trump's contradictory, uninformed, or in his words, “outright wacky ideas.”
