Clay Aiken: I Don’t Think Trump’s a Fascist or Racist, I Think He’s a Democrat

‘I am not sure that he knows what he’ll be when he is president’

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

[clip starts]
 TRUMP: “I just want to say I’ve never been so torn. This is a very, very tough decision. You’re both amazing people. There is no loser tonight.”
[clip ends]
VARNEY: “Ah, that was former celebrity Apprentice Clay Aiken. You saw him there before Donald  Trump fired him. Wait a second, your mom loves  Trump and to vote for —“
AIKEN: “I said she would vote for him. I don’t think she loves him. She was going to vote for him because of the debate the other night and the way that people ganged up on him, there was a push —“
VARNEY: “Your mom likes him and —“
AIKEN: “He fired me on national TV.” 
VARNEY: “Wait a minute, you know the guy. I mean, he’s been compared to a fascist or compared to Hitler, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. You met the guy and talked to him.”
AIKEN: “Yeah.” 
VARNEY: “He’s not like that, is he?”
AIKEN: “No, I don’t think he’s a fascist or racist at all, I don’t agree with Ted Cruz on pretty much anything except for the fact that I’m not convinced that he is necessarily should be running in the Republican Party for the nomination.” 
VARNEY: “I get the point and maybe his politics are different from your politics, I get the point. I don’t think calling him a fascist.”
AIKEN: “I don’t think they’re as different as you think they are, that’s my point.” 
VARNEY: “I don’t think it’s right. You can’t call this man —“
AIKEN: “You’re not hearing me. I said I don’t think he’s a fascist, I don’t think he’s a racist, I think he’s a Democrat.” 
VARNEY: “Oh, that’s interesting.”
AIKEN: “And I think that’s what’s most concerning to me, I was talking to somebody the other day, how I believe he’s this way and he speaks another way and that’s what worries me about him becoming president because I don’t know what he’ll be when he’s president, you don’t know what he’ll be when he’s president. I’m not sure he knows what he’ll be when he’s president and that’s far more frightening to me even than someone I might disagree completely.” 
VARNEY: “I understand, I’ve got it. I thought you were totally opposed to  Trump for his politics or charisma, whatever it is, that’s not the case.”
AIKEN: “I like him as a person. I always say he’s like the uncle that gets drunk the a the wedding and embarrasses you, but you wish he would shut up.”
VARNEY: “I understand. There are a lot of big names and comparing you to big names here, boosting you up, lad. We’ve got Johnny Damon, we’ve got Paul O’Neil, Jon Voight, we’ve got Mike Ditka.”
AIKEN: “The bears. He and I have so much in common.”
VARNEY: “Not quite. They’ve endorsed him, but not Clay Aiken. You can’t be won over?”
AIKEN: “No, no, I am a Democrat and I certainly don’t agree with anything he’s saying right now. Nor do I agree with anyone else on that side of the aisle who is running for president.”
VARNEY: “OK.”
AIKEN: “But I think the concern for me more is that I don’t really know where he falls.” 
VARNEY: “When you were the doing the Apprentice, do you spend time with him.”
AIKEN: “You spend more time than you did with the judges on Idol.” 
VARNEY: “That’s right, you were on Idol.”
AIKEN: “Came in second on that, too. America’s number one number two.” 
VARNEY: “Donald  Trump, is he an easy guy to talk to or get along?”
AIKEN: “He is very charming in person. What you see on TV, what you see on the rally stage is not necessarily what I’m used to. He’s very charming and approachable and has always been very nice to me so it’s a juxtaposition that’s hard for me to calculate and justify when I’m watching him.” 
VARNEY: “Clay, a pleasure having you on the show. Come back if you’re not careful. (Laughter) We appreciate it, thanks so much, sir.”

Video files
Full
Compact
Audio files
Full
Compact