At the top of Monday’s NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer hyped concerns that Donald Trump was “too quick to judge” about an explosion in New York City, despite accurately labeling it a bombing on Saturday. The anchor then wondered if Hillary Clinton was “too cautious” in her response. In the report that followed minutes later, correspondent Peter Alexander proclaimed: “Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump demonstrating very different strategies and styles on issues of national security.”
Alexander continued: “After the explosions, a sharp contrast in the candidates' responses....Donald Trump quick to react, even before New York City police had identified what happened....Hillary Clinton's initial response more measured.” A soundbite played of Trump telling supporters that “a bomb went off in New York,” followed by a clip of Clinton scolding: “I think it's always wiser to wait until you have information before making conclusions.”
However, Alexander ignored the fact that Clinton referred to “bombings” in New York and Jersey at the same time as Trump on Saturday.
On ABC’s Good Morning America, correspondent Tom Llamas correctly informed viewers: “Before officials even declared that explosion in New York City a bombing, Donald Trump had heard enough....Hillary Clinton, who arrived in New York the night of the attack, also calling it a bombing before the official word was out.” Footage of Clinton telling reporters: “I've been briefed about the bombings in New York and New Jersey and the attack in Minnesota.”
<<< Please consider helping NewsBusters financially with your tax-deductible contribution today >>>
<<< Thank you for your support! >>>
Even so, Llamas claimed Clinton was “striking a much different tone than Trump” and later told co-host Robin Roberts: “...when you look at the approaches between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, they're starkly different. Hillary Clinton, much more measured in her words. Donald Trump likes to get out there aggressively. Sometimes it gets him in trouble.”
CBS This Morning only briefly noted the political back and forth, with correspondent Nancy Cordes declaring: “Trump sought to project strength after the bombing. Clinton, steadiness.”
Here are excerpts from Today and GMA:
Today
7:00 AM ET TEASE:
MATT LAUER: The politics of terror. As Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton head back on the campaign trail today, new questions over how each responded to those bombings. Was Trump too quick to judge? Was Clinton too cautious? How their reactions could impact the way voters view their approach to national security.
7:15 AM ET SEGMENT:
MATT LAUER: In the wake of both of these incidents, or all of these incidents, both presidential candidates are now speaking about national security with the election only 50 days away. Here’s the state of the race, Hillary Clinton’s in Philadelphia this morning, she’s speaking to young voters at Temple University, she’ll then return to New York to meet with several world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly, including the president of Egypt.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Donald Trump also plans to sit down with the Egyptian leader today to discuss foreign policy matters. And before that, he’s holding a rally in Florida. This is his third visit to that state in less than two weeks.
LAUER: Let us bring in NBC national correspondent Peter Alexander, he’s at Trump Tower, just a few blocks from us, here in new York. Peter, good morning to you.
PETER ALEXANDER: Hey, Matt and Savannah, good morning to you. As you said, 50 days until the election, exactly one week until the first debate. But their responses this weekend really offering a real-time point and counterpoint, with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump demonstrating very different strategies and styles on issues of national security.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Trump & Clinton Clash Over Bombing; Candidates React and Respond Differently]
After the explosions, a sharp contrast in the candidates' responses.
DONALD TRUMP: Just before I got off the plane, a bomb went off in New York.
ALEXANDER: Donald Trump quick to react, even before New York City police had identified what happened.
TRUMP: Nobody knows actually what's going on, but, boy, we are living in a time – we better get very tough, folks.
ALEXANDER: Later turning heads with the tone of his tweets, expressing, “warmest regards, best wishes and condolences to the New York bombing victims and their families.” Hillary Clinton's initial response more measured.
HILLARY CLINTON: I think it's always wiser to wait until you have information before making conclusions.
ALEXANDER: Later condemning the “apparent terrorist attacks,” urging Americans to “choose resolve over fear.”
GMA
7:17 AM ET(...)
TOM LLAMAS: Before officials even declared that explosion in New York City a bombing, Donald Trump had heard enough.
DONALD TRUMP: Just before I got off the plane, a bomb went off in new York. And nobody knows exactly what's going on.
LLAMAS: Trump, preaching vigilance.
TRUMP: We better get very, very tough. Just happened. So we'll find out. But it's -- it's a terrible thing that's going on.
LLAMAS: Hillary Clinton, who arrived in New York the night of the attack, also calling it a bombing before the official word was out.
HILLARY CLINTON: I've been briefed about the bombings in New York and New Jersey and the attack in Minnesota. Obviously, we need to do everything we can to support our first responders.
LLAMAS: Clinton later calling them apparent terrorist attacks. But striking a much different tone than Trump.
CLINTON: I think it's always wiser to wait until you have information before making conclusions.
(...)
7:39 AM ET
ROBIN ROBERTS: We welcome you back. It's time for the big board and our team of insiders standing by live for more on the morning’s top stories. We’re going to begin with Tom llamas back here at the table. You were talking about the bombings. That's what's been the top story all morning long. And how the candidates are weighing in. You shared a little bit. How will this impact the race?
LLAMAS: It's incredibly important right now. Now doubt it’s going to come up at the debate in exactly one week. Donald Trump actually just moments ago made some news on this. He's now calling for more profiling when it comes to people like this who are potentially terrorists. He just said this moments ago. So when you look at the approaches between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, they're starkly different. Hillary Clinton, much more measured in her words. Donald Trump likes to get out there aggressively. Sometimes it gets him in trouble. Like it did in Orlando when he tweeted out a congrats for himself. But other times its helped him. After San Bernardino, after Paris, his polling numbers on the Muslim ban went up among Republican voters, so that’s his approach and he's sticking to it.
(...)
