‘That’s an Evasion!’ Debate Pregame Erupts As Geraldo Pounds Spicer Over Trump Stolen Election Claim
NewsNation’s debate pregame show erupted when Geraldo Rivera demanded ex-Trump spokesman Sean Spicer give a straight answer about ex-President Donald Trump’s false stolen election claims.
The four remaining candidates who aren’t named Donald Trump — Former Amb. Nikki Haley, Governors Chris Christie (R-NJ) and Ron DeSantis (R-FL), and Vivek Ramaswamy — gathered at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama for the fourth Republican presidential primary debate. Hosted by NewsNation and broadcast on NewsNation and The CW, the debate’s moderators were Elizabeth Vargas, Megyn Kelly, and Eliana Johnson.
The debate was preceded by spin room interviews and a panel discussion hosted by NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo and Morgan Ortagus. They were joined by Rivera, Spicer, and former Trump senior adviser Mick Mulvaney.
Things got heated when Geraldo trashed Trump over the Big Lie, then challenged Spicer to tell him, “yes or no!” if the election was stolen — and didn’t like the responses he got in return:
GERALDO RIVERA: Donald Trump. The reason I said I can never vote for him is because of what he did. You know, in the in the days after the 2020 election. What he did was so really obscene! What he did was was so — objectionable to any patriot and to the constitutional process that they are sworn to uphold that I believe he has forfeited the right to be president.
But I am obviously in a tiny and shrinking minority within the Republican Party. And I, I, I think that people will look back at this and will say, how is it? Like, do you, Sean, believe the election was stolen?
SEAN SPICER: I believe that what Democrats did in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin.
GERALDO RIVERA: Yes? No?
SEAN SPICER: No, no, no, it wasn’t stolen, but it was.
GERALDO RIVERA: Who won the election?
SEAN SPICER: Well, Joe Biden is the president for God’s sake!
GERALDO RIVERA: Oh, that’s not the answer!
SEAN SPICER: No, it is an answer!
GERALDO RIVERA: No, that’s the evasion I was talking about!
SEAN SPICER: No it’s not! Because here’s my point, and this is not where we’re going on this. But the bottom line is the Democrats, whether it’s in Pennsylvania with drop boxes or same-day voting, did not have the authority under the state constitution and voting laws to do what they did. They used Covid as an excuse to change the rules. Did they change the rules and do it? Yes. But was it legal? I don’t think so.
MICK MULVANEY: Let me take Geraldo’s side on this, because I’m a small C conservative. You are as well. Okay. Which is that Trump had a chance to make that case, and he did not do it!
SEAN SPICER: No, that’s right. Yes, I agree with you on that.
MICK MULVANEY: So he lost the election.
SEAN SPICER: Oh, I agree. His lawyers let him down. Big time!
Watch above via NewsNation.
