Donald Trump declared himself to be a “ratings machine” in an early morning rant on Truth Social while lashing out at critics of his fumbling Fox News interview after Vice-President Kamala Harris’ DNC speech.
Trump called in to Fox News to trash Harris’ speech moments after it ended, but beeps could be heard as he appeared to be accidentally pressing buttons on his phone as he spoke.
Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum ended the interview after about 10 minutes after several unsuccessful attempts to interrupt Trump to ask a question.
On Sunday, Trump insisted that it was Baier who called him.
“Bret Baier of FoxNews called me, I didn’t call him, just prior to the Kamala Convention speech, and asked me if I would like to critique her after she is finished. I agreed to do so!” Trump wrote on Truth Social early on Sunday morning. “I thought it was nonspecific and weak, with no fracking, crime, inflation or anything else of interest even mentioned.”
“Delivery was a C+, with far too many and speedy “thank you’s” at the beginning. It was “WEIRD!” Likewise, I didn’t call other media outlets that asked me to go on, they called me,” he continued.
“The Fake News, like often “gilted” Maureen Dowd of the failing New York Times, wrote incorrectly that I was making the calls. WRONG!!! I don’t have to make calls to go on TV, or anything else — They call me! It’s called Ratings, I guess, and I’m the “Ratings Machine!” he added.
Despite Trump’s claim of being a ‘ratings machine’ it was the DNC that outperformed Trump’s RNC in ratings and Harris’ speech had 22% percent more viewers that Trump’s.
Trump also called another Fox News host Greg Gutfeld live on the air, and also did a phone with Newsmax after Harris’ speech ended.
The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman said Trump did not appear to to be “in command” of himself during the interviews.
“He is clearly jarred by her,” Haberman said.
