According to Bono, Donald Trump is the “worst idea that ever happened to America.” CBS This Morning co-host Charlie Rose interviewed the Irish rock star on Tuesday and the journalist fretted over why Hillary Clinton wasn’t doing better. But first Bono assailed, “America is the best idea the world ever came up with. But Donald Trump is potentially the worst idea that ever happened to America.” (Worse than slavery?)
He explained, “America is not just a country. Ireland is a nice country. Great Britain, great country. It's not an idea. America is an idea. And that idea is bound up in justice and equality for all.”
This prompted Rose to worry about why Clinton isn’t running away with the race: “Why do you think this race is about even, running against a woman who has been Secretary of State, a United States senator, First Lady of the United States? And the race is about even.”
This type of question is becoming more common. On September 8, during Clinton’s first press conference in 278 days, a journalist asked the Democrat: “Given what you say are his historic inadequacies and qualifications on the commander in chief that you just made, shouldn't you basically be running away with it at this point?”
Bono made sure to avoid insulting Trump’s supporters, saying, “I would not diminish Trump's supporters, or underestimate their angst. Because I feel that, in a way, they have correctly assessed that the center parties haven't yet come clear.”
A partial transcript of the September 20 segment is below:
CBS TM
9/20/16
8:16CHARLIE ROSE: A legendary rock band is marking a milestone. This is U2's 40th year in the music business. Lead singer Bono is well-known for philanthropic work around the world. He's in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly. I spoke with him about his activism, his music, his view of the presidential race.
...
CHARLIE ROSE: Does Trump come to you as somebody who is a change agent because people are so unhappy about the status quo? Or does he come to you as something else?
BONO: Look, America is, like, the best idea the world ever came up with. But Donald Trump is potentially the worst idea that ever happened to America. Potentially. Could destroy it because of what we're saying. Because America is not just a country. Ireland is a nice country. Great Britain's a great country. It’s not an idea. America is an idea. And that idea is bound up in justice and equality for all. Equality and justice for all. You know?
DONALD TRUMP: Making America strong again.
ROSE: What is it?
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BONO: I think he's hijacked the party. I think he's trying to hijack the idea of America. And I think it's bigger than all of us. I think it's — it's — this is really dangerous.
ROSE: Why do you think this race is about even, running against a woman who has been Secretary of State, a United States senator, First Lady of the United States? And the race is about even.
BONO: Mmm. I would not diminish Trump's supporters, or underestimate their angst. Because I feel that, in a way, they have correctly assessed that the center parties haven't yet come clear.
ROSE: What you're saying their angst is real and genuine, a sense that “I worry about my country and where it is.”
BONO: Yeah, but there are very real problems facing, not just America, but facing Europe. And remember, who's in the White House? I'm Irish, I don't have a vote. I can't speak out to people who want to vote and don't want to. But I have a voice. And I can say who sits in that office really affects everyone in this world.
GAYLE KING: Wow. That was great, because he’s so real. I like that he paid respect to Donald Trump's supporters, saying they have a valid point. A valid point is what he's saying.
NORAH O’DONNELL: America is an idea. It's more than a country.
