Trump: ‘Everybody Exaggerates ... I Guess I Do a Little Bit’

BASH: “One of the things I do want to ask about that was in The New York Times this morning, they went through some of your depositions, quoted you under oath saying, "I'm no different from a politician running for office. You always want to put the best foot forward," saying that you exaggerate.” 
TRUMP: “Well, I do want to put the best. You can call it exaggeration. Of course, I want to put the best foot forward. I'm not going to say, oh, gee, everything is terrible. I'm a very optimistic person. I'm optimistic for the country. Of course, I want to put –“ 
BASH: “Do you exaggerate?” 
TRUMP: “Everybody exaggerates. I guess I do. I want to say good things. OK. So, I have space for rent. Somebody walks in. Am I supposed to say, this space is no good, don't take it, it's terrible? Or am I supposed to say, this is beautiful space, don't you love it, isn't it wonderful, look at the view?” 
BASH: “Will you exaggerate in the White House?” 
TRUMP: “The word -- I don't think the word ‘exaggerate’ is a good word. I want to put a positive spin on things. I want to put a positive spin on the United States. If I'm president, because we have a country that's not respected. We're very down. The United States is very down. We don't have good news anymore. We don't have victories anymore. So, I would certainly want to promote the United States as a great place. People are laughing at us all over the world. They think we're stupid. And we are. I mean, we're being led by stupid people. We're being led by people that don't have a clue they're incompetent.” 
BASH: “One other question about the quote. You said, I'm no different from a politician running for office. Have you considered yourself a politician? Because you are out there saying that you're not.” 
TRUMP: “I became a politician a few months when I decided –“ 
BASH: “This is several years ago.” 
TRUMP: “Yes. But politicians running for office try and put a positive spin. I think that's OK. I mean, what are they going to do, put a negative spin in? I think they try and put a positive spin. A politician is a person that generally speaking should be uplifting.” 
BASH: “Do you consider yourself a politician?” 
TRUMP: “Well, now, I'm a politician but I'm not acting like a politician because I tell the truth.”