On Thursday's Closing Bell on CNBC, Rob Reiner repeated his charge that Donald Trump's supporters are "not all racists, but there is a strain there." Host Bill Griffeth wondered, "Don't you think just people are angry — they're angry at Washington; they're angry at their boss?" Instead of immediately pointing to "racism," Reiner admitted that "there is a big chunk of Trump supporters who are very upset at the income inequality." However, he added that "there is a strain of racism that's there — because when you go to the Sanders rallies, there are no racists at those rallies!" [video below]
Co-host Kelly Evans mentioned the liberal Hollywood producer's "devastating" remarks from earlier in the day on MSNBC's Morning Joe, and pointed out that "you made a comment that a lot of Trump supporters are — quote, 'racist.'" She continued by playing a clip of Trump from an interview on CNBC the very same morning, where the billionaire claimed that "one of the reasons I have 25,000 people showing up to hear me speak at one night...is because these workers...haven't had an effective wage increase in 20 years."
Griffeth then asked his "don't you think just people are angry" question. Reiner highlighted the apparent similarities between Trump and Bernie Sanders supporters, but continued that "there is a difference, and I'm not — I didn't say all Trump supporters. I said there is a strain of racism that's there — because when you go to the Sanders rallies, there are no racists at those rallies!"
Evans followed up by pointing out "something Trump said that's resonated with a lot of folks about political correctness." She asked, "You're in the filmmaking business. Do you feel like you can't really say things or express things — that certain things are just verboten these days because...that has run amok?" The guest acknowledged "there are comedians that certainly feel that at times," but underlined, "I don't feel that. I've never felt that."
Reiner also mentioned his role on the TV comedy, All In The Family, and how "we said what we felt, and I'm pretty much — I'm the same way now." Griffeth quickly took the opportunity to ask, "What do you think Archie Bunker would think of Donald Trump?" Unsurprisingly, the producer/writer replied, "Total Trump supporter — no question about it. He's the first one to sign up for Donald Trump — without question."
The transcript of the relevant portion of the Rob Reiner segment from CNBC's Closing Bell on May 5, 2016:
KELLY EVANS: This morning, speaking of devastating—
BILL GRIFFETH: You interested in politics?
ROB REINER, ACTOR & FILMMAKER: No! What do you mean? (unintelligible)
EVANS: We know, Rob — this morning on Morning Joe, you made a comment that a lot of Trump supporters are — quote, 'racist.' Trump called into CNBC this morning and had this to say about the crowds attending his rallies.
DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: People haven't had a wage increase. You know, one of the reasons I have 25,000 people showing up to hear me speak at one night, and we turn away 15,000 people, is because these workers — these incredible workers; these middle class — many of them haven't had an effective wage increase in 20 years.
GRIFFETH: Don't you think just people are angry — they're angry at Washington; they're angry at their boss?
REINER: Yes; yes. Yes, they are. And that is what I said on Morning Joe — that there is a big chunk of Trump supporters who are very upset at the income inequality. The economy has left them behind. But the same can be said about a lot of the Sanders supporters — same kind of feeling — feeling like the system is rigged; that the incomes are not there. And yet, there is a difference, and I'm not — I didn't say all Trump supporters. I said there is a strain of racism that's there — because when you go to the Sanders rallies, there are no racists at those rallies!
EVANS: There is something Trump said that's resonated with a lot of folks about political correctness; and, almost, this climate —and maybe you see a little bit on college campuses these days of — you know, trying to say safe things or what have you. I mean, you're in the filmmaking business. Do you feel like you can't really say things or express things — that certain things are just verboten these days because it — that has run amok?
REINER: Well, I do think that there are comedians that certainly feel that at times there. But I don't feel that. I've never felt that. You know, I came out of the '60s, and I was on All in the Family. We said what we felt, and I'm pretty much — I'm the same way now.
GRIFFETH: Speaking of which—
REINER: Yes?
GRIFFETH: I'm dying to ask you: what do you think Archie Bunker would think of Donald Trump?
REINER: Total Trump — total Trump supporter — no question about it. He's the first one to sign up for Donald Trump — without question.
