Liam Conner
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Former President Donald Trump says Pennsylvania voters will not be swayed for the outcome of his criminal trial in New York.
In an exclusive interview Tuesday with KDKA-TV political editor Jon Delano, Trump said that while the trial makes no difference, it calls into question the fairness of Pennsylvania’s election system.
Trump talks about the impact of the trial on the elections
Just before Trump entered court Tuesday morning, he spoke with KDKA-TV about a range of issues affecting Pennsylvanians. He was asked about his trial, a case in which he is expected to go before the jury next week.
Any questions about witnesses were off limits because of the court’s gag rule, but KDKA-TV asked former President Trump if he thought a guilty or not guilty verdict would affect Pennsylvania voters.
“I don’t think it’s had any impact. I think it’s escalated – this trial is a sham trial with a judge who is a dishonest judge, and a conflicted, highly conflicted judge,” Trump said.
“Even if he is convicted, I don’t think it will have any impact. It could increase the numbers,” he added.
Seemingly unconcerned about the impact of the verdict, Trump is concerned that the elections in Pennsylvania – conducted by election officials in 67 counties – will not be fair.
Delano: “What are these concerns?”
Trump: “Well, I absolutely have concerns. Whenever you get mail and whenever you get the kind of stuff that they have in Pennsylvania, there’s no concern, I mean, we just have to stop it.”
Trump, who lost Pennsylvania by more than 80,000 votes in 2020, still insists he won the state four years ago.
“It was a disaster what happened in Pennsylvania in 2020. We absolutely beat Pennsylvania in 2020 and other states as well,” he said.
“We should go to all paper ballots. We should have one-day voting, one-day elections and do it properly. And voter ID, you have to have voter ID. They don’t want voter ID because they want to cheat, ” Trump added.
Delano: “How are they going to cheat? How are Democrats going to cheat in Pennsylvania?”
Trump: “About 12 different ways – so many ways, if you had all day I could give you examples.”
It is important to note that no widespread fraud was found and KDKA-TV reminded the former president of numerous lawsuits challenging the 2020 result against him, to which he says that the judges did not have the courage to do what is right.
Trump asked about position on abortion and contraception
It’s a hot issue in this year’s presidential race: abortion and contraception.
Pennsylvania is one of those states that allows abortion up to the 24th week of pregnancy, but many on all sides favor federal laws that expand or restrict abortion rights.
Delano: “Will you veto any federal legislation that restricts or restricts Pennsylvania’s current abortion law?”
Trump: “No, I don’t like the federal government. I just took it from the federal. We did something that everyone wanted, everyone said it couldn’t be done. We got rid of Roe v. Wade. Wade that brought him back to the states.”
Delano: “So if Congress passes a 15-week bill, would you veto it?”
Trump: “I don’t think there’s any reason for that, because every state will have their own.”
A related issue is contraception and the efforts of some to restrict contraceptives such as morning-after pills.
Delano: “Do you support any restrictions on a person’s right to contraception?”
Trump: “Well, we’re looking at that and I’ll have a policy on that very soon. And I think it’s something you’ll find interesting.”
Delano: “Well, that suggests you might want to support some restrictions, like the morning-after pill.”
Trump: “We are also – you know, things really have a lot to do with the states. And some states will have different policies than others.”
This used to be true decades ago when different states had different laws for and against contraception, but the Supreme Court struck down those restrictions in 1965, saying laws against contraceptives violate a person’s “zone of privacy.”
“I will present within a week or so a very comprehensive policy that I will deliver to you immediately,” Trump said.
No word yet on what that policy will look like, but any policy that allows states to prohibit contraception would appear to violate a 60-year-old Supreme Court ruling unless and until the current Supreme Court rules otherwise.
Trump explains how he would improve the economy if elected
Both President Biden and Trump claim to have done the most to improve the lives of Americans.
In his interview, Trump offered ways to improve the economy if he is elected in November this year.
The economy remains the number one issue for most Pennsylvanians, poll after poll confirms. So it’s no surprise that Trump says he will do better than the incumbent if he is elected in November.
Delano: “What are some things you will do to improve the economy for Pennsylvanians?”
Trump: “Well, the big thing I’m going to do is drill a little drill. We’re going to drill. You know Biden shut down your energy industry. You have a big fracking industry and he’s made it very difficult. And I’ll tell you something , if he wins re-election, he will shut this down completely.
President Biden has repeatedly told KDKA-TV in previous interviews that he will not ban fracking in Pennsylvania. President Biden has invested federal dollars in green energy, such as solar and wind, which Trump derides.
“Wind, the worst energy there is, the most expensive, kills all the birds, it looks like hell everywhere,” Trump said.
WATCH: Full interview with former President Donald Trump
Trump promises tax cuts if elected.
“I’m going to cut them by 25, 30 percent and I’m going to cut energy bills. Everyone in America will pay at least 50 percent less in energy costs once I am president,” Trump said.
Trump did not detail which specific taxes would be reduced. On another big issue, trade policy with China and saving American steel jobs, Trump claims that Biden copied his policies and claims he will increase tariffs on foreign imports.
“I would raise the tariffs. I’m going to raise the tariffs, raise them substantially. His thing is just limited. I bailed him out with tariffs, and they have to go up,” Trump said.
President Biden disputes that his steel aid has been limited. He was in Pittsburgh recently to announce additional fares and was endorsed by the United Metal Workers Union, but the former president insists he started it all.
“I was the one who saved the steel industry with tariffs,” Trump said.
This is vehemently denied by President Biden.
KDKA-TV gives President Joe Biden a chance to respond
KDKA-TV reached out to President Biden to talk about these very issues.
Jon Delano
