Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump insisted on Monday that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence was his first choice for a running mate and denied that he might have been having second thoughts on his pick late last week.
“He was my first choice,” Mr. Trump said on “Fox and Friends.” “It was amazing the way the news, the media — you talk about crooked. The media is so distorted and so false.”
Mr. Trump had been scheduled to announce his choice on Friday at an event in New York, but said Thursday the event would be postponed in light of the attack in Nice, France. Mr. Trump tweeted out Friday morning that Mr. Pence was his pick, and the two had an event together on Saturday in New York.
“It was absolutely my first choice,” Mr. Trump said. “I delayed one day because of the horrible tragedy that just took place. If I would have had it then, you talk about getting hit on, it would have been so inappropriate.”
“And what happened is I delayed it a day for that,” he said. “There was never any thought at all … they said because I delayed it for the tragedy, they said well, maybe he’s having second thoughts.”
“A total lie. It was such a lie,” he said. “We told ’em — total lie. But they kept it going.”
“I’ll tell you what: The media is so dishonest, it’s incredible. Just incredible,” he said.
“Mike Pence was my first choice. He was my only choice,” Mr. Trump said. “I spoke to he and his wife the night before. Once I said that, it was over.”
“And by the way, it was a great choice,” he said.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had also been mentioned as possible picks for Mr. Trump.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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