Stephanopoulos-Trump Interview: Accusers ‘Debunked,’ Media ‘Pile-On,’ ‘Opposed’ Iraq War [Video]

Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump spoke with George Stephanopoulos from ABC News yesterday on topics ranging from the numerous allegations of sexual misconduct levied against him to the situation in Mosul, Iraq.

The Trump-Stephanopoulos interview began with the Good Morning America co-anchor looking back at his coverage of the launch of the Republican candidate’s campaign in June 2015. Stephanopoulos noted to the outsider politician that he conducted the first interview of the Trump campaign.

“You did,” Donald Trump heartily agreed.

Stephanopoulos then asked the candidate about criticism he had received for taking time away from his campaign to attend the opening of his new hotel.

Donald Trump responded that he felt that it was “unfair” given that Hillary Clinton attended an Adele concert on Tuesday night, the night before her 69th birthday. The real estate mogul compared his “eight stops” on Tuesday with Clinton’s schedule.

“What am I supposed to do?” Donald Trump asked. “Not show up? I’m taking one hour off. I built this hotel under budget and ahead of schedule.”

The Stephanopoulos-Trump discussion then turned to the Republican’s stated belief that the election may be “rigged.”

“I think the system is rigged,” Donald Trump said to Stephanopoulos.

The GMA host then referred to a tweet Trump had posted in 2012 referring to the election that year as a “travesty” and a “sham.” Stephanopoulos questioned the GOP nominee how the 2012 election was “rigged.”

Trump referred to the media being skewed against conservatives.

“The only thing worse is the way I’m being treated,” Trump explained. “Look, I’m being treated… Hey, it’s record-setting bad treatment what I’m getting. It’s the greatest pile-on in American history.”

The man reported to have more than a ten percent chance of assuming the role of President of the United States, as previously reported by the Inquisitr, described how supporters at his rallies are starting to “hate” the media, because of a perceived bias.

Donald Trump said that his supporters see that “it’s all a big lie… not all, but a lot of it’s a big lie” about the media’s portrayal of him.

Stephanopoulos pointed out that the candidate received “a billion dollars” in free publicity from the media during the presidential primaries. Trump responded that it might not be worth so much if “it’s bad.”

The businessman pivoted to Wikileaks, all the “horrible” things Hillary Clinton has done, and a belief that she is “so guilty.” Trump described an “anger” within America about the former secretary of state’s deleted emails and the fact that she has been permitted to evade prosecution concerning them.

Stephanopoulos immediately confronted Trump with statements by the FBI that “no reasonable prosecutor” would have pursued a case against Hillary Clinton for her use of a personal email server, refuting his claim that Clinton is “so guilty” and that she has evaded anything.

“Look. Something happened,” Trump appeared to have no reply.

“What happened?” George Stephanopoulos pressed Donald Trump.

“Well, I think somebody talked to him,” Trump’s said, referring to FBI director James Comey.

“So you’re saying the head of the FBI is corrupt?” Stephanopoulos continued pressing Donald Trump.

“George, George. She’s so guilty,” Trump implored Stephanopoulos, almost whispering.

The GMA host then asked the Republican nominee if he would accept the results of an election if Hillary Clinton wins in a landslide.

“I’ll make that decision at the right time,” Trump sounded somewhat exasperated. “I mean, don’t worry about it.”

The GOP candidate stated once again that the current political system is “rigged.” He described WikiLeaks emails where Clinton campaign Chairman John Podesta is said to have stated that the Democratic candidate has “bad instincts.”

George Stephanopoulos questioned Donald Trump as to why so many top U.S. security advisors believe that the source of the WikiLeaks emails is connected to the Russian government, but that he remains ambivalent.

“Hacking is very interesting,” Donald Trump stated. “Hacking is very hard to determine who did what.”

“People are hacking all over the place. Nobody knows.”

The Republican candidate then stated that he could “teach a couple of things” to a military expert who stated that Trump doesn’t “know a damn thing about military strategy.” Trump has continually taken exception with the history of the U.S. military of announcing attacks, such as the current operation in Mosul, publicly beforehand. The operation that targeted and killed Osama bin Laden may serve as evidence that the Obama administration does not always announce its military intentions publicly, as previously reported by the Inquisitr.

The Stephanopoulos-Trump discussion then turned to the allegations of sexual assault against him, made by numerous women.

“You know, I hate that you waste time,” Trump scolded Stephanopoulos. “When we’re talking about ISIS, and we’re talking about jobs, and you’re still bringing that up.”

“Look. These were false attacks. These things never happened. These people. I don’t know these people. These things never, ever happened. “

Donald Trump stated a belief that the women making the allegations may be connected to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. George Stephanopoulos asked Trump if he had any proof to back up such accusations.

“Well,” Donald Trump appeared truly bewildered, “many of the stories have already been debunked.”

The candidate for president of the United States then repeated that many of the allegations of sexual misconduct had been “debunked.”

Stephanopoulos cited six witnesses backing up the claims of People Magazine writer Natasha Stoynoff, as previously featured by the Inquisitr.

“Why didn’t she write the story 12 years ago?” Trump demanded.

“She said she was afraid,” Stephanopoulos responded.

“Aww, she was afraid,” Donald Trump scrunched up his face and spoke pointedly. “Give me a break! She was afraid to write it. She would have gotten the Pulitzer Prize. Give me a break.”

“The stories were fabricated,” Trump looked at Stephanopoulos directly.

“So you’re going to go through with the lawsuit?” Stephanopoulos looked directly back.

There was a slight pause before Trump softened considerably.

“Ah, we’ll find out,” the presidential candidate stated.

Trump explained that he wanted to be able to see the outcome of the election before he made any decisions concerning litigation against his accusers and media outlets publishing their stories.

The host asked the business mogul if, looking back at the entirety of his campaign, he had any regrets.

“Absolutely,” Donald Trump stated without pause. “I’d love to have done certain things over, but you can’t.”

Stephanopoulos then asked Trump about the Khan family and Judge Gonzalo Paul Curiel: if he should perhaps apologize to them.

Trump did not address Judge Curiel, but he explained his view that U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan would still be alive if he had been president at the time.

“You did support it initially,” Stephanopoulos stated.

The ABC host’s words caused Trump to stop.

“I never support… Look. Look. Let’s get it straight. I was opposed to the war in Iraq,” Donald Trump spoke clearly.

Stephanopoulos then played a clip of Trump from Howard Stern, where Stern asks Trump if he is favor of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the reported billionaire replies “Yeah, I guess so.”

Trump explained that the Stern quote was “way before” the Iraq War even started and that it was the “first time” he had ever been asked about the subject.

[Featured Image by Brian Blanco/Getty Images]