On Tuesday night, ABC and NBC reported on the Professional Golf Association’s (PGA) decision to cut ties with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump over his stance on illegal immigration and, predictably, the two networks deployed soundbites from Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s CNN interview to bash Trump and the GOP as a whole.
In addition, NBC Nightly News went another step beyond that and used a “worker” from the construction site of a Trump hotel in Washington D.C. and a Washington Post article to suggest that the candidate’s hypocritical on the issue.
Anchor Lester Holt noted the move by the PGA to move a golf tournament from one of Trump’s courses before promoting how “we’re hearing from a worker at one of Trump's sites under construction” who’s “firing back at Trump's comments about illegal immigration.”
With more on that, correspondent Katy Tur started her report by touting this so-called “worker” who declined to be identified or have his face shown on-camera:
At the old Post Office Pavilion, just steps from the White House, Donald Trump is building his latest luxury hotel. Here, his immigration stance isn't just politics. It's personal. One worker who did not want to be identified told NBC News today: “We came to work to get ahead and not do anything bad. All the people I know are workers, not rapists.”
Tur continued by referencing a Washington Post article about the makeup of the workers at the construction site: “According to The Washington Post, many of the workers on site are immigrants. Some crossed the border illegally, but are legal now while others remain quietly undocumented.”
While at an event on Tuesday, Tur asked Trump about the “fallout” from at least nine businesses and groups cutting ties with Trump and if he’s “concerned that it’s going to hurt your business.” In his response Trump simply stated: “No. Not at all.”
Turning to the GOP, Tur added that “some Republicans worry it's hurting the party, dividing them on the key issue of illegal immigration, one they hoped to own and opening the door for Democrats to pile on.”
Such a statement segued into a clip of Clinton attacking Trump: “I feel very bad and very disappointed with him and with the Republican Party for not responding immediately and saying, enough, stop it.”
Following a similar tune, ABC’s World News Tonight took notice of Clinton’s interview as anchor David Muir introduced almost the exact same clip of Clinton attacking Trump and the GOP with the on-screen headline reading: “Hillary Speaks; Bashing Trump and Republicans.”
The transcript of the segment from July 7's NBC Nightly News:
NBC Nightly News
July 7, 2015
7:09 p.m. Eastern[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE CAPTION: Trump Firestorm]
LESTER HOLT: Another day, another business announcing it is cutting ties with Donald Trump. This time, it's the PGA pulling a big golf tournament from one of Trump's courses. Meantime, we're hearing from a worker at one of Trump's sites under construction firing back at Trump's comments about illegal immigration. We get more now from NBC's Katy Tur.
KATY TUR: At the old Post Office Pavilion, just steps from the White House, Donald Trump is building his latest luxury hotel. Here, his immigration stance isn't just politics. It's personal. One worker who did not want to be identified told NBC News today: “We came to work to get ahead and not do anything bad. All the people I know are workers, not rapists.” According to The Washington Post, many of the workers on site are immigrants. Some crossed the border illegally, but are legal now while others remain quietly undocumented.
THE WASHINGTON POST’s ANTONIO OLIVO: The workers were both angry about what Donald Trump had to say about them and some were worried about being pushed out of work.
TUR: In a statement, a spokesperson for Trump said “[o]ur contractors are required to have prospective employees produce documentation that establishes identity and employment eligibility in compliance with immigration law.” Meanwhile, there's also word today that the PGA and Trump have parted ways. Now, at least the ninth organization to cut ties. [TO TRUMP] What about the fallout? I mean, companies keep backtracking, backing away from you. Are you concerned that it's going to hurt your business?
DONALD TRUMP: No. Not at all.
TUR: But some Republicans worry it's hurting the party, dividing them on the key issue of illegal immigration, one they hoped to own and opening the door for Democrats to pile on.
HILLARY CLINTON: I feel very bad and very disappointed with him and with the Republican Party for not responding immediately and saying, enough, stop it.
TUR: But still number two in several polls, stopping Trump doesn't look likely. Katy Tur, NBC News, New York.
