Donald Trump wants to run for president. Meghan McCain wants to be taken seriously. In their attempts to do these things, they made the mistake of turning to each other. For her fifth question in her remarkable, amusing interview with Trump, McCain asked him for a job. The reality star--who's declared bankruptcy multiple times and, at one point, had to fire 370 people from his casino and airline--said he'd love to have her. He then asked McCain--whose own father's losing campaign wouldn't tell her who his vice-presidential pick was--for advice on Republican pollsters and early primary states. Perhaps both Trump and McCain should be looking elsewhere for advice if they know what's best for them.
Before the interview, McCain had asked her Twitter followers to suggest questions to ask the supposed presidential candidate. Responses flooded in. Among them:
- "How does Trump feel about our public education system and how could it be improved?"
- "Ask him how he plans to halt hydraulic fracturing for natgas due to groundwater contamination"
- "Ask Trump if he's going to release a new edition of his awesome board game."
- "When's he going to get off this 'birther' non-issue?"
Alas, McCain mostly ignored her followers, save for the last one.
Meghan: Why do you think this birther thing still has such legs?
Donald: Because I think there’s something to it. For weeks, I said to people, "No, he was probably born here, but I'll check into it." You know a certificate of live birth is not a birth certificate and all that. I’m more and more convinced he may not have been born here.
Meghan: You sent people over to Hawaii to investigate, correct?
Donald: Yes.
Meghan: Did you find anything?
Donald: Well, I better not comment on that yet.
But the best part of the interview was the love shared between these two TV personalities with famous dads. Trump seems pretty psyched about this interview--it's much better than that nasty one with George Stephanopoulos, he says.
Donald: So are we doing a radio show?
Meghan: No, this is an interview for The Daily Beast.
Donald: Oh, OK, good. I like you. I see you a lot on television. I like you and I like your father, I'll tell you. And I like your mother. I like your whole family. Hey look, I supported your family, right?
Meghan: I'm at home in Arizona right now, and I told my mom I was interviewing you, and she was like, "I think he can really do this."
Donald: Your mom is great. And your father's great.
...
Donald: I love your attitude. And I’ve seen your attitude, and that's why I’m doing this interview.
Meghan: If you run for president, will you hire me for your campaign?
Donald: I like the idea! I love it! Will you do me a favor? See how I do, and you call me at the right time. I’m serious about it.
...
Donald: Hey Meghan, do you have somebody for me in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina?
Meghan: I do, actually. I could definitely help you.
...
Donald: A friend of mine called up and said, "Donald, don’t change your message." I don't want to change. The nice part about being wealthy is I can do what I want to do. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But I have to be honest.
Meghan: You have the least to lose of anyone.
That last sentence? That's the truest thing in this interview.
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