MSNBC host Ari Melber had harsh words for conservative commentator Corey Lewandowski after he was questioned about comments he made during his coverage of the Republican National Convention (RNC) last month.
At issue was Melber’s characterization of Donald Trump a month ago, when he arrived with a freshly bandaged ear, days after a failed assassination attempt.
Melber, 44, said at the time of Lewandowski’s boss: ‘On the first night of this convention, Trump was his own biggest supporter. [He] entered the VIP box… a large white bandage over his injured right ear,’ the New York Times quotes him as saying.
Melber later put his own spin on the quote, calling the moment “an image of political mobilization, a spectacle for this candidate who, as we know, is obsessed with all kinds of spectacles.”
On Wednesday’s The BeatTrump’s former campaign manager — now reinstated as his “senior attorney” — questioned Melber about the second claim and its origins. Melber denied it was his own claim, and responded that his guest was heading toward a “defamatory situation.”
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MSNBC host Ari Melber (left) had harsh words for conservative commentator Corey Lewandowski (right) after he was questioned about comments he made during his coverage of the Republican National Convention (RNC) last month
At issue was Melber’s characterization of Donald Trump — Lewandowski’s old boss — when he arrived with a freshly bandaged ear, days after a failed assassination attempt
“I quoted a New York Times article that said Donald Trump was ‘his own biggest prop’ at the convention,” Melber told his guest on Wednesday.
“It was a quote from the New York Times about how he–”
Lewandowski, who was fired during Trump’s 2016 primary, then paused on the issue.
“Let me read it to you,” he said.
Melber, in turn, continued to try to finish his sentence.
‘ -How [Trump] had become such an important figure in the recovery from what was a horrific assassination attempt. Fox News–
“I’ll read it to you,” the 50-year-old Lewandowski said again, visibly irritating the progressive speaker on the other end of the line.
“Corey, I said I was going to tackle it,” Melber stated. “I’m going to finish: Fox News,
“A lot of viewers may not know this, but apparently you do, and some of you do too,” he continued.
‘Fox News, which has been found guilty of defamation, published a false article falsely claiming that I said something I didn’t say.
“So, I stand by that. I stand by the New York Times quote.”
Melber, 44, said at the time of Lewandowski’s boss: ‘On the first night of this convention, Trump was his own biggest supporter. [He] entered the VIP box… a large white bandage over his injured right ear,’ the New York Times quotes him as saying.
Lewandowski, however, was not convinced and persisted in his attempt to address the MSNBC employee’s distorted memory.
“So you didn’t say, ‘This bandage was a prop, a spectacle by a candidate who is obsessed with glasses.’
Melber — whose show is the most watched on MSNBC — responded, “Uh, Mr. Lewandowski, I didn’t say that. That’s a false quote.”
“I have it here,” Lewandowski shot back.
Melber accused the political strategist who joined Trump’s 2024 campaign last week as a senior adviser of producing a false quote.
Lewandowski was not fazed and stuck to his position
“You absolutely said that,” he said.
“The quote is incorrect,” Melber replied.
‘And if – I warn you – if you keep repeating, wrongly, that I said that, then you may end up in a defamation situation – because I didn’t say that.’
The veteran presenter admitted: ‘But I understand that you are working on the Internet, which contains a lot of incorrect information.’
Melber later put his own spin on the quote, calling the moment “an image of political mobilization, a spectacle for this candidate who, as we know, is obsessed with all kinds of spectacles.”
An unamused Lewandowski replied, “Well, this is what it said. Here.
“I wish you luck with that,” Melber replied. “We’ve given you time.”
The interview ended there, after just over 12 minutes.
Lewndowski’s return to Trump’s ranks is part of a new campaign to thwart Kamala Harris’ newfound success.
Lewandowski went on air on Friday to reveal what will and will not change now that he has been brought on board the campaign.
“We’re 80 days away from the election, but the truth is people are starting to vote much earlier,” Lewandowski told Martha McCallum on Fox News.
“We’ve only got 45 days left before the ballots go out, so all hands on deck,” he said, referring to mail-in voting, which Trump has often criticized in favor of in-person voting. “There’s a place for everyone who wants to be part of the team,” he said.
McCallum introduced him as a “senior adviser” and then asked for clarification. “Something like that, I guess. I don’t know if titles matter — the only title that matters is the president’s,” he replied. (Trump said Thursday he would be a “personal envoy.”)
On Wednesday’s The Beat, Trump’s former campaign manager — now reinstated as his “senior adviser” — questioned Melber about the second claim and its origins
“The president has decided to continue to bring in members of his team who want to ensure that he is successful,” he said.
After being fired just weeks into Trump’s 2016 campaign, just before that year’s convention, Lewandowski praised Trump’s new leadership team and said he had no plans to review the operation’s books.
“It’s an addition campaign, not a subtraction campaign,” he said.
“I am honored and humbled that the President has asked me to come back and lead this campaign to a successful Election Day in early November.”