(WWJ) President Donald Trump has released footage of his interview with the CBS News broadcast 60 Minutes, in which he had plenty to say about Michigan's governor.
Questioned by CBS' Lesley Stahl, the president praised the Michigan Supreme Court decision that ruled the law Whitmer used to issue COVID-19 executive orders unconstitutional.
Trump said people "aren't liking" Whitmer so much "because she's got everybody locked down."
"...The only one she hasn't got locked down is her husband, who went sailing and did things that he wasn't supposed to be doing," Trump said.
It's not completely clear to what Trump is referring when he says Michiganders are locked down. The governor's stay-home order was lifted back in June, and businesses are now open -- although with capacity limits and other health department-issued safety rules in place.
While "sailing" was always allowed, Trump may be referencing an incident in which Whitmer's husband dropped his wife's name in an effort to jump the line to get the family's boat in the water. Motorboating was briefly banned early on the in pandemic.
Asked about an incident at a rally in Muskegon, where Trump criticized Whitmer's response to the pandemic, Trump denied encouraging a "lock her up" chant.
"When did I say lock her up?" Trump asked. "When did I say lock up the governor? I didn't say lock up the governor? ... Of course I don't want to lock her up. Why would I lock her up?"
While the crowd may have chanted, "I never said lock up the governor of Michigan. I would never say that," he said.
The president, laughing, did respond to the chant, "Lock them them all up," as heard in video of the rally.
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Among Trump's gripes about Whitmer were some outright falsehoods. Trump criticized Whitmer for shutting down churches -- which she in fact did not do. Places of worship were exempt from the governor's executive orders.
Trump said he's actually been helping Whitmer; pointing out that it was his Justice Department that foiled the kidnapping plot against her.
Thursday morning, Trump posted a 37-minute video on Facebook that he says shows his unfair treatment during the interview, which was eventually abruptly halted by the president.
CBS News released the following statement about the clip:
"The White House's unprecedented decision to disregard their agreement with CBS News and release their footage will not deter 60 MINUTES from providing its full, fair and contextual reporting which presidents have participated in for decades. 60 MINUTES, the most-watched news program on television, is widely respected for bringing its hallmark fairness, deep reporting and informative context to viewers each week. Few journalists have the presidential interview experience Lesley Stahl has delivered over her decades as one of the premier correspondents in America and we look forward to audiences seeing her third interview with President Trump and subsequent interview with Vice President Pence this weekend."
You can hear the complete 60 Minutes program on WWJ Newsradio 950 at 7 p.m. Sunday.