The legendary journalist Barbara Walters was definitely a pioneer — in calling out Donald Trump’s BS.
A resurfaced and edited video of a 1990 interview Walters performed with the longer term president for ABC’s “20/20” has made its approach to TikTok and appears to show that a leopard by no means adjustments its spots.
Within the brief clip on TikTok, Walters might be seen difficult Trump over his enterprise acumen after the publication of his 1990 e-book, “Trump: Surviving at the Top.”
The clip begins with Trump busting out a soundbite that, by this level, comes off as an oldie however a goodie.
“I hope the general public understands how inherently dishonest the press in this country is,” Trump says.
“As a member of the press, let me try to clear up some of the things which you say are untrue,” Walters fires again, unbothered.
Donna Svennevik by way of Getty Pictures
Walters then reads an excerpt from “Surviving at the Top.”
My bankers and I labored out a terrific deal that enables me to return out stronger than ever. I see the deal as an important victory.
She then stops studying and says to Trump straight:
“Being on the verge of bankruptcy, being bailed out by the banks, skating on thin ice and almost drowning? That’s a businessman to be admired?”
Trump, who had been attempting to interrupt Walters whereas she was confronting him, makes an attempt to disclaim her claims.
“You say ‘on the verge of bankruptcy,’ Barbara,” Trump begins. “And you talk ‘on the verge,’ and you listen to what people are saying—”
“I talked to your bankers,” Waters says.
“Well, that’s fine. And what do they say? I mean, you know, depending on which banker you’re talking to—”
“Several,” Walters shoots again.
Ida Mae Astute by way of Getty Pictures
The clip then cuts to Walters telling Trump that his bankers had informed her that one of the best ways he might get out of debt was by promoting his lodge, the Plaza. Trump had purchased the New York Metropolis lodge in 1988 for barely greater than $400 million, an outrageous amount of cash for a lodge on the time, the New York Occasions reported.
Based on the Occasions, Trump’s banks finally took possession of the Plaza and shopped it round till it offered in 1995 for a deal valued round $325 million — none of which went to Trump.
“Well, I don’t know what the bankers have said, but the Plaza is a very valuable property,” Trump tells Walters within the interview. “Everybody told me, ‘Oh, you paid too much. You paid too much.’ Now they’re all saying, ‘What a great deal he made.’”
“No, they’re not,” Walters replies earlier than the clip ends.
After watching the clip on TikTok, many individuals appeared to have the same takeaway within the feedback. As one TikToker put it: “he’s always been exactly who he is.”
“He’s been a lying, delusional conman his entire life,” one other TikToker wrote.
“The press isn’t dishonest, HE is and that’s why he’s currently trying to suppress the press. 🙄🙄🙄,” stated one other person.
“If this interview happened in 2025 MAGA would blindly yell ‘fAkE nEwS!’” one other TikTok identified.
“He’s always been a grifter,” echoed one other person.
“He hates being called out by women, especially women in the press,” one other person identified.
Though Trump was reportedly livid about his 1990 interview with Walters, the 2 had been mates who ran in the identical New York Metropolis circle.
Ron Galella by way of Getty Pictures
Trump even wrote sort phrases in regards to the journalist after her dying in 2022.
“She was the greatest of them all, by far,” Trump wrote on Fact Social. “I knew her well, was interviewed by her many times, and there was nobody like the legendary Barbara Walters – And never will be!”
