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“Donald Trump is the best interview in the world.”
I have interviewed former President Donald Trump more than 20 times over the past eight years, and the above observations I made in 2015 and early 2016 still hold true today: During my recent interview with the former (and hopeful future) President, we had a lengthy exchange on a number of topics.
Trump “made the news” with that interview. Trump “made the news” all the time. That's the main reason why he's such a great interview subject, and why hosts and networks work around his schedule when he does. There are many other reasons for my assessment, but the most important of them is that Trump “makes the news weather.”
Because interviewers never know what Trump will answer to what question, each interview provides new information about him, his plans, and his views on world events. Trump is always forthright, candid, controversial, and persuasive.
In contrast, George Stephanopoulos failed to get a single unexpected or compelling answer out of Joe Biden in his interview on Friday night. The only news to emerge from the interview was Biden's repeated refusal to take an independently administered cognitive test. Nearly everything else was a theme the president has used before, and often frequently. Even the attacks on Trump were clichéd and repetitive.
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Biden's answers to Stephanopoulos' questions did nothing to quell the growing rebellion among Democrats facing tough election battles this fall. The ABC-produced interview drew derision from many, sympathy from some, and disbelief from others — I include myself in the latter group. Biden failed to generate any emotional connection with his audience beyond sympathy, sadness, and anger, and he showed no signs of introspection about his lack of vigor and energy to confront the many complex challenges ahead, as explored by Stephanopoulos.
I have only interviewed President Biden once, many years ago, when I was broadcasting from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's annual conference in Washington, DC. At the time, Biden was a senator and George W. Bush was president. Biden didn't say anything particularly memorable or make headlines at the time, but I commented then, and have since, that Biden has the best smile you could hope for in a public figure. He flashed that smile on Friday night on ABC, but not during the debate.
Biden calls “Morning Joe” in defiance of campaign refusal
The president's energy level on Friday night hadn't improved since the debate. Neither had his pronunciation or logic. There were insults and talking points about Trump, but even on Friday night the president's smiles didn't last as long as they did four years ago, let alone 20 years ago.
The Republican and Democratic news universes barely overlap anymore: Very few Americans watch any entertainment programming at the same time, let alone any news programs. The Super Bowl and presidential debates are the only events shared in real time by tens of millions of Americans.
President Biden raised eyebrows when he refused to take a cognitive test during an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos. (Screenshot/ABC)
Everybody knows what they saw and heard at the debate, and anyone who decided to watch the interview with Stephanopoulos knows what they saw and heard. They're all saying the exact same thing, which is very unusual today.
Many people of all ages, backgrounds and political views, especially in different states (both ruby red and deep blue), have the same deep doubts about the president's ability to lead the country and the world at the next inauguration, much less for the next four years. And it's not just Americans. Israelis of all parties and stripes, for example, must be deeply concerned that Joe Biden is making decisions that will affect their country's ability to survive. Our enemies, too, are calculating that Biden won't make it to January, and certainly won't be re-elected.
This is a tragic moment for a “caring, well-meaning, elderly man with a frail memory,” as special counsel Robert Hur described it in his report explaining why President Biden will not face any charges for the trove of classified documents found in his office and home. But it is an even worse danger to the country and the world. Just as George Stephanopoulos tried bravely on Saturday to tell the president the truth about how the American people think of him, leading Democrats and their families, the White House and campaign staff should do so tomorrow and Sunday. Tell the truth.
Any serious journalist would have conducted a different interview than the one Stephanopoulos conducted on Friday, because journalists who formally interview public figures have different approaches and priorities, but any center-right journalist, let alone a conservative one, would be skewered if they were questioned for more than 20 minutes about Biden's age or acumen.
The Washington media got away with what Stephanopoulos did because he's partisan. And that's exactly what was needed Friday night: a partisan former operative turned TV host whose motives were hard to question. And Stephanopoulos delivered exactly what the country needed: a clearer explanation of President Biden's condition.
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The result is further evidence that President Biden is unfit for the job due to his age and the inevitable infirmities that come with it. Biden should not continue to run, but rather step down now and have Vice President Harris assume the presidency as an “acting” president under Section 3 of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, replacing Biden as the Democratic nominee. This approach would allow the president to serve out his term and limit his public office runs to ceremonial only. Biden would want to remain in the White House, retain his pardon power when he regains full powers before handing over office in January, and remain head of state until then. The pardon power would include the power to pardon. That's fine. But the country shouldn't risk spending another six months with someone who is way beyond his ability to govern the country, and the Western world.
Hugh Hewitt is the host of “The Hugh Hewitt Show,” broadcast weekdays from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM on the Salem Radio Network and simulcast on the Salem News Channel. Hugh wakes up America on over 400 affiliates nationwide and on all streaming platforms where Salem News Channel is available. He is a frequent guest on Fox News Channel's News Roundtable hosted by Bret Baier weekdays at 6:00 PM ET. A native of Ohio and a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt has been a professor of law at Chapman University's Fowler School of Law, where he has taught constitutional law since 1996. Hewitt began his eponymous radio show in Los Angeles in 1990. Hewitt has appeared frequently on all major national news television stations, hosted television shows on PBS and MSNBC, contributed to all major American newspapers, authored 12 books, and moderated numerous Republican presidential debates. He most recently moderated the November 2023 Republican presidential debate in Miami and four Republican presidential debates in 2015-2016. In his radio show and column, Hewitt focuses on the Constitution, national security, American politics, the Cleveland Browns and the Guardians. During his 40 years of broadcasting experience, Hewitt has interviewed tens of thousands of guests, from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republicans George W. Bush and Donald Trump. In this column, we preview the top stories that will be headlining today's radio/television shows.
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