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Geraldo Rivera has ‘heartfelt’ call with Trump, a ‘realist’ who will ‘do the right thing’

President still stewing over ‘Russia hoax’ and his impeachment, TV host reveals

Oliver O'Connell
New York
Friday 13 November 2020 23:55 GMT
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Geraldo Rivera has ‘heartfelt’ call with Trump
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TV host Geraldo Rivera has revealed on Twitter that he has had a “heartfelt” phone call with his friend Donald Trump who told him that he is a “realist” who will do the “right thing”.

The president said that he wants to see “what states do in terms of certification” and Mr Rivera described him as sounding committed to fighting for every vote, and if he loses, talking more about what he’s accomplished.

Mr Trump is reportedly particularly aggrieved by the savage attacks on his presidency from the minute he was elected. He reserved special scorn for what he calls the “phoney Russia hoax” and the Nancy Pelosi-driven “phoney impeachment”, says Mr Rivera.

The president also asked the TV host what he knew about Dominion Voting Systems — which Mr Trump has baselessly claimed deleted millions of votes for him. Mr Rivera vowed to check it out.

“He seemed like a heavyweight champion who is behind in points leading into the final round, but determined to fight on, knowing all the refs have scored the fight for the other guy,” says Mr Rivera. “Still, he's going to answer the final bell, looking for the knockout he knows is a longshot.”

Earlier Mr Rivera tweeted that the president is still in it to win it, but that he should give Joe Biden the briefings he needs to serve as president were his election to be certified.

The president has made only one public appearance since Mr Biden was declared as the 2020 election’s victor on Saturday. 

He has tweeted conspiracy theories and advised his followers to abandon Fox News on which Mr Rivera is a roaming correspondent-at-large.

Earlier in the week Mr Rivera tweeted: "Dear Donald Trump – my honoured friend – you fought an incredible battle vs all odds and the curse of insidious disease. You battled the back stabbers & our enemies & remade the world in peace & prosperity. You came so close. Time coming soon to say goodbye with grace and dignity."

He added: “Leaving chin high in a week or so – when your court fights no longer present a realistic long shot chance to overturn election – you remain head of GOP, architect of #SCOTUS, the new populism, continued hope of the conservative movement & if you so desire, candidate in 2024.”

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