Bernie Sanders and John Kasich argue over whether Trump is a 'liar'


Two 2016 presidential primary runners-up, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), met for a CNN town hall on Tuesday night. Of course the topic of President Trump came up, especially since hours earlier, The New York Times had dropped the latest bombshell about the president: allegations that he asked the FBI director to drop an investigation into Michael Flynn and, by extension, the Trump campaign. At one point, prompted by moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, Sanders and Kaisch discussed Trump's truthfulness.
"Is Trump a liar, or am I using hyperbole here?" Sanders asked Kasich. "Is he a liar?" "Well, you know, sometimes he says things I don't agree with and I think they don't resemble the facts," Kasich replied, to laughter, but he said using terms like "liar" is not helpful for America. "Let the facts speak for themselves and then we can draw a conclusion," he said. Sanders asked what we should call a president who says millions of people voted illegally for his opponent. "I guess I'm going to belabor this," Kasich said, responding with a question about misleading campaign copywriters. "I mean, we just have to be careful about our terms, that's all I'm saying," he concluded.
Earlier in the town hall, Kasich made clear he wasn't there to defend Trump. "The things that have swirled around this White House are the reasons that caused me not to move forward and support him both in the primary and going to that Republican convention," he said. When Tapper asked Kasich if he's concerned that Trump "doesn't have the competence to be president," Kasich said Trump "doesn't understand all the things about the job," but there's "a learning process for everybody" and he hopes Trump "will become a unifier, will more understand the gravity of this job, stop the tweeting, and bring people together."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sanders disagreed. "I'm not a psychiatrist," he said, "but there's something strange going on, I think, with Mr. Trump." He said Trump lies all the time, mentioned Trump's affection for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and argued that Trump has "an authoritarian-type mind" and isn't "a great believer in dissent or democracy." So no, "I don't think this is just a learning curve, I think he's a smart guy, but something else is going on," Sanders said. Watch. Peter Weber
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
September 1 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday’s political cartoons include Labor Day picnic, branding strategy, and more
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?
Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
When does autumn begin?
The Explainer The UK is experiencing a 'false autumn', as climate change shifts seasonal weather patterns
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda