'Every president deserves immunity': CNN supercut uses Trump’s own words to bust latest Obama attack
President-elect Donald J. Trump arrives with U.S. President Barack Obama at the Capitol for the 58th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2017. More than 5,000 military members from across all branches of the armed forces of the United States, including reserve and National Guard components, provided ceremonial support and Defense Support of Civil Authorities during the inaugural period. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Marianique Santos)
CNN ‘This Morning’ Host Erica Hill on Monday said she was surprised by the White House’s evolving opinion on the question of presidential immunity.
President Donald Trump accused former president Barack Obama of treason this week, springboarding from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s claim that Obama "manufactured" Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Trump delivered his accusation after reporters requested updates on Trump’s refusal to release the entire file on convicted sex trafficker and former Trump friend Jeffrey Epstein. Now the White House is highly focused on an investigation into a former president, which Hill says runs contrary to Trump’s earlier take on presidential investigations.
READ MORE: What Trump does not want revealed now — or anytime in the future
“I was struck by the response when [White House Press Secretary] Karoline Leavitt was asked about [presidential immunity],” Hill reported before playing Leavitt’s clip from a Wednesday press event.
“[Trump] wants to see all those who perpetuated this fraud against our country, who betrayed our country and the Constitution to be thoroughly investigated and held accountable,” Leavitt told reporters.
“[Trump] ‘wants [Obama] to be held accountable,'” Hill repeated. “So, I just want to follow that up to with what we have heard from President Trump over the years about presidential immunity."
READ MORE: 'Deal with it': Top Senate Republican gives Mike Johnson an ultimatum over Epstein scandal
“Presidential immunity is imperative, or you practically won't have a country anymore,” Trump said in one clip.
“If a president doesn't have full immunity, you really don't have a president,” he claimed in another.
“I feel that as a president, you have to have immunity. Very simple," he argued.
“I'm entitled to immunity. Every president has immunity,” Trump insisted in yet another.
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