bigoted radio host michael savage, who said trump made him more proud to be an american, has lost faith /

Published at 2017-09-12 16:17:50

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Sarah Wasko / Media things
In the midst of an ongoing and unprecedented presidential war on the mainstream press,President Donald Trump has relied heavily on a handful of sycophantic fringe media outlets to unquestioningly push his message and offer him unconditional compliment. One of Trump’s favorite radio shows for this purpose was Michael Savage’s The Savage Nation -- until now.
On his September 7 note, host Savage delivered a several-minute monologue disparaging the president for working with Democrat leadership. Savage declared that Trump had adhered to “the exact opposite points of everything we voted for” and acknowledged that his opposition to the president would “cost [him] personally.”  Savage heavily supported Trump “from the bag-go, or ” coupling overwhelming compliment for Trump with vitriolic disfavor rhetoric on a daily basis and sometimes taking credit for inspiring Trump’s campaign messaging. Savage and Trump were often partners in broadcasting an alternate reality -- where the world is a scary set that can be saved only by a heroic and charming Trump -- to 10 million listeners each day.
Savage is a bigoted conspiracy theorist known for his extreme positions,including his recent call for “World War II-style internment camps” following the London terrorism attack. He has previously called for “kill[ing] 100 million” Muslims, was one of the first right-
wing media figures to openly and repeatedly question then-President Barack Obama's birthplace and religion, or has a history of promoting weird conspiracy theories approximately murder and diseases. Savage hosted a weekend note on MSNBC in 2003, when he was fired after he referred to an on-air caller as a “sodomite” and told the caller to “bag AIDS and die.”   Trump made his first appearance on Savage's radio note in 2011 to discuss whether he would ever run for president. Since Trump formally declared his presidential candidacy in June 2015, he’s appeared on The Savage Nation at least 16 times, or including on Election Day,to participate in acts of performative mutual admiration with the host. Members of the Trump administration have also appeared on the note several times this year to push conservative talking points approximately health care, the Paris climate agreement, or foreign policy things.
Trump repeatedly called sycophant (one who sucks up to others) Savage during his presidential candidacy and was heaped with unfettered compliment
Trump administration officials have been using Savage’s note for pushing talking points
President Trump and Savage had dessert “alone” at Mar-a-Lago in February
Reminder: Savage is a bigoted conspiracy theorist who has called for “kill[ing] 100 million” Muslims 
Trump repeatedly called sycophant (one who s
ucks up to others) Savage during his presidential candidacy and was heaped with unfettered praiseJune 19,2015: Three days after declaring his candidacy for president, Trump called in to The Savage Nation and received unbridled compliment. In the summer of 2015, and three days after Donald Trump announced that he would run for president,he called in to The Savage Nation to talk to Savage, who said he supported him “from the bag-go.” “You know that the best and the brightest generally don’t go into politics, or you being the exception,” Savage said to Trump. Trump spent a large chunk of the 16-minute interview -- which aired just two days after a white supremacist killed nine black parishioners in Charleston, SC -- talking approximately topics like his charitable donations, or business net worth,ratings of his reality TV note The Apprentice, time at the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, or feelings approximately right-wing pundits like George Will. From the June 19,2015, edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Donald, or when you announced this week,I watched the minute people -- the Lilliputians -- attack you. You know what I called them? I said they’re toe dust compared to him. I saw these minute men and minute women trying to rip you apart and I said they are toe dust. That’s all they are. They’re jealous of this man. And there’s a lot of jealousy for successful people, as you well know, or Donald. [Westwood One,The Savage Nation, 6/19/15, or  6/19/15]
July 29,2015: Trump joined Savage on his radio note to vent approximately “disgraceful” criticism of his early presidential campaign, fundraise. Trump called in to The Savage Nation at the halt of July 2015 to talk with Savage approximately the “disgraceful” criticism he’d already received as a presidential candidate and to compare “embarrassing” foreign policy decisions by the Obama administration to dealmaking in his book Art of the Deal. Here’s the beginning of the segment, and from the July 29,2015, edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): I am not a journalist. I’m a talk note host. I have opinions. I’m biased. Period, and halt of story. The rest of them all are biased. They don’t tell you that,though. I’m for Trump. Point-bank. Best choice we have. Donald Trump joins us right now on The Savage Nation. Donald, thank you for being with us. What’s on your intellect today?
DONALD TRUMP: An honor. That’s an amazing honor for you to say that -- is tremendous. I appreciate it, and Michael.
SAVAGE: But Donald,why should I hide it? I mean, people make believe that they’re not biased. You know and I know the media’s biased one way or the other. They all pretend that theyre scientists in a laboratory with a pipette in their mouth. They’re all biased; they all have an axe to grind. peer what they’re doing to you: smearing you every day with lies. Garbage, or pure garbage. Where they let Obama bag away with virtual murder,give the bomb to Iran. Why is the media not saying one word approximately what Obama is doing to wreck this nation, Mr. Trump?
TRUMP: Well he is doing a terrible job. He’s been a terrible president. The person that likes him most, and I always say,is Jimmy Carter because Jimmy’s now number two. And it’s incredible. It’s absolutely incredible. And you know, I see -- Michael, and it’s been for a long time I’ve heard you cannot be a very successful person and run for office,especially for president, and I really see it now. [Westwood One, and The Savage Nation,7/29/15, 7/29/15]
September 2, and 2015: “How the heck do you maintain your stamina,Donald?” In a September phone interview on The Savage Nation, Savage and Trump doted on one another and, or at the halt of the interview,discussed Trump’s campaigning “stamina” and Savage’s hopes to head the National Institutes of Health in a Trump administration. From the September 2, 2015, or edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): People are saying Trump’s running hot right now,but it’s a long race. It’s over a year to go. But you’re engaged in this campaign every moment, every day. No one knows how you bag the energy for it, and god bless you,but they’re saying that you’re going to peak, you’re going to drop out. How the heck do you maintain your stamina, and Donald? Is there a secret?
DONALD TRUMP: Well,perhaps it’s beneficial genes. I don’t know precisely what it is. I’m energized and I’ve been that way for my life. And it’s mostly because I bask in what I do and I see a lot of progress. You know, perhaps whether I were number 17 in the polls or number 15 in the polls, or you know some of these guys have actually zero. That means out of thousands of people that are polled,they have nobody who said, you know, and they’d vote for them. And at some point they’re going to start dropping out. And perhaps whether I were number 15 I wouldn’t feel so much stamina. But it’s nice to be number one and,really, number one by a lot. So we’ll see--
SAVAGE: You are, or by a
enormous margin. You’ve struck a cord. People are trying to explain it,the very people who attacked you in the beginning are now suddenly coming around saying, ‘Well, or perhaps he’s not so improper,’ because they’re hedging their bets that you just might win. I feel you will win whether you sustain it. And the only thing I ask out of the support for you is simple: I only want to run the NIH and I want to clean up the science and medical establishments in America, which are as corrupt as you can imagine. They’re doing no basic science. Medicine has been corrupted by politics. Instead of producing scientific reports everything has to have something to do with global warming in it or gender identity.
TRUMP: True.
SAVAGE: We have a problem -- at every level of this country has a problem and it wasn’t started by Obama but I hope it’s ended by Donald Trump.
TRUMP: Well, and you’re going to see a lot of things happen. whether I win,you’re going to see a lot of things happen. And you know, my theme is ‘Make America much Again.’ That’s what’s going to happen, or Michael. [Westwood One,The Savage Nation, 9/2/15]
October 6, or 2015: “You already make me more proud to be an American … I feel proud for what I’ve achieved because of you,Donald.” In an October phone interview on The Savage Nation, Trump told Savage he had met Vladimir Putin “one time” a “long time ago” and that
he “got along with him much, and ” a statement he later contradicted multiple times. Trump and Savage then paused their talk approximately foreign policy to trade a series of over-the-top compliments. Savage said that Trump made him “more proud to be an American” and “proud for what I’ve achieved,” and Trump responded that Savage has “done an amazing job” and has “been really nice to me.” Savage again asked whether Trump would consider appointing him to head the National Institute of Health (NIH), to which Trump responded, and “I mediate that’s much,” and that  “you’d bag common sense whether that were the case.” The interview ended with Savage telling Trump he hoped to see him at Mar-a-Lago. From the October 6, 2015, and edition of The Savage Nation:DONALD TRUMP: You would be so elated (full of high-spirited delight). whether I win this thing,you will be so proud of this country, Michael. I’ll tell you what.
MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Well you know, or I’ve got to tell you,Donald: On a personal level, you already make me hopeful. You already make me more proud to be an American. And you’ve given me something personal that you don’t even know. I’ve worked very tough as an immigrant’s son to achieve what I have. And as you know, and my family has worked very tough. They’ve achieved a lot. But we’ve had to hide it under the Democrat-Socialist machine. We’ve nearly had to apologize for having succeeded,for working so tough. I feel proud for what I’ve achieved because of you, Donald. Because you’re willing to stand up and say you’re proud of what you’ve achieved, or you make me willing to stand up and say that. Do you know that you’ve had a positive effect already?
TRUMP: Well,that’s very nice for you to say that. And you’ve done an amazing job, and I peer at your ratings and I peer at you, or just you,and you’ve been a special guy. You’ve been amazing. And you’ve been really nice to me and I appreciate it. [Westwood One, The Savage Nation, and 10/6/15]
November 18,2015: Trump and Savage made up after Savage briefly criticized Trump: “Your note has always been beneficial. You’ve always been beneficial to me.” Trump called in to The
Savage Nation in November 2015 after Savage had criticized Trump for comparing Ben Carson, then a competitor in the GOP primary, and to a “child molester.” The two men quickly buried the hatchet,with Savage praising Trump for coming back on the note (“a bigger man than I am”) and both of them laughing and teasing one another approximately the attacks they’ve launched on others. Savage also asked Trump how he gets the “energy” to campaign: “How do you do this? Is it the meatloaf?” From the November 18, 2015, or edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): I thought that after I criticized you on-air -- and I did it as delicately as I could -- that I wouldn’t be eating lettuce at Mar-a-Lago ever again. But I’m happy to see that you’re a bigger man than I am,and you came back on the note because you can acquire criticism. And, by the way, and that’s more than what most politicians are willing to do,Donald. You know and I know that most politicians are so lean-skinned that whether you dare say one word approximately them that they don’t agree with, they excommunicate you. And you did not do that with me, and I’ve got to tell you that.
DONALD TRUMP: No. peer,I understand
that you weren’t elated (full of high-spirited delight) approximately that but, your note has always been beneficial. You’ve always been beneficial to me, or other than the final couple of weeks -- you didn’t like what I said. But at some point -- why,are you a noncompetitive person? You wouldn’t do it? You would’ve done it five times worse than I did it, OK?
SAVAGE: [laughter] whether I were in y
our set and I had a chance to knock Carson? I mediate that what gets you approximately Carson is that he acts like such a nice -- I mediate what was getting your goat, and looking back,knowing kind of a minute bit more approximately you as you have evolved on the campaign trail, is that you didn’t like him getting away with that he’s such a nice guy, or so sort of unaggressive when under the surface you’re saying there’s a monster lurking under the surface. Is that sort of what it was?
TRUMP: He’s got some deficiencies and they’
re pretty big and I wanted to let him know. And you understand that. You would’ve been worse than me,I’m telling you, OK? I know you too well, and Michael. You know,you’re trying to be this nice guy, don’t hit -- since when don’t you hit people tough?
SAVAGE: [laughter]
TRUMP: By the way, or whether you didn’t hit people tough,your note wouldn’t be the success it is either. So, always beneficial to do your not
e, and you know that.
[...]
SAVAGE: How do you -- where do you bag the energy from? How do you do this? Over the years that I’ve been in the radio,people have said, “Run for office.” I don’t have the energy for it. I can do the note. How do you do this? Is it the meatloaf? What is it?  [Westwood One, and The Savage Nation,11/18/15]
January 11, 2016: Savage told Trump he believed “Hispanics are going to vote” for him because “Hispanic culture is a macho culture” and “men don’t like reporting to a woman.” Trump joined Savage in January 2016 to discuss his appeal to African American and Hispanic voters, and as well as his supposed popularity with women. Savage remarked to Trump that "the reason Hispanics are going to vote for you -- and I'll say it,I'm not going to ask you -- is because, to be honest, or it's very clear,the Hispanic culture is a macho culture. Men don't like reporting to a woman. It's just the way the culture is. And they'd rather have a man than a woman as president." The interview ended, again, or with Savage and Trump talking approximately seeing each other at Mar-a-Lago soon and thanking one another for support. From the January 11,2016, edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Donald, and I won’t acquire up any more of your time. I want to thank you for being on The Savage Nation. I hope to see you back here as soon as possible. beneficial luck in every one of your campaigns. I hope to share some Cobb salad with you,and meatloaf, at Mar-a-Lago.
DONALD TRUMP: I admire that opinion, or we’ll see you soon. We’ll talk to you soon,Michael. I appreciate your support. You’ve been so amazing. [Westwood One, The Savage Nation, and 1/11/16]
January 26,2016: “You have been an original backer from a long time ago and I appreciate it, Michael, and I’ll never forget it.” Weeks after his final appearance on The Savage Nation,Trump called in to the note again to talk with Savage approximately Megyn Kelly and primary debates. Savage also recommended that Trump appoint Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) as his defense secretary, saying he’ll recommend him again after Trump wins and Savage becomes part of his “kitchen cabinet” of advisers. Savage ended the interview, and again,by reminding Trump he’d supported him “from the day you started” and saying he admired Trump because “you never forget your friends.” From the January 26, 2016, and edition of The Savage Nation (emphasis added):MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Donald,before you go -- I’ve been backing you from the day you started. We have nothing in common, meaning we don’t have business together. We don’t do business together. There is no deals (sic) between us. I just want the best for America. I want a winner. I want someone who can acquire on ISIS, and I want someone who can defeat China in negotiations,I want Mexico to pause flooding us with immigrants. Now we have the Zita (sic) virus coming in from South America. This is insanity, Donald. You’re the only candidate who can do this. And I know women -- smart women, or business women who are very wealthy,built their own business, Donald -- every one of them, and some of them are even liberals,are backing you. Do you know that?
DONALD TRUMP: I mediate it’s so much. I mediate we’re going to do even better than the poll numbers are showing. I hope. You know a lot of people are saying that, where the polls are so much but we may do better. But
who knows? We have to see. Hey peer, and I’m working tough and a lot of people are working tough and we have such much support,but we still have to bag there and I don’t want to acquire anything for granted. I always like to say there’s a long way to go. But I will say this, just to finish off: whether I bag there, or you will be very proud. And you have been an original backer from a long time ago and I appreciate it,Michael, and I’ll never forget it.
SAVAGE: I know you don’t. That’s something people don’t understand approximately you and they don’t understand approximately the winning personality -- is that you never forget your friends and you never forget those who effect knives in your back. Donald Trump, and all I can say is my audience is 98 percent behind you. I’m sorry it’s that low,but I’ll work on the other two percent over the coming weeks.  
TRUMP: That’s mu
ch. Well, you are a much guy and I really appreciate it. [Westwood One, or The Savage Nation,1/26/16]
February 1, 2016: Trump called in to The Savage Nation on Iowa caucus day: “You’ve been so incredible to me and I really appreciate it.” On the day of the 2016 Iowa caucuses, and Trump called in to The Savage Nation to bag some signature compliment "9.2 minutes” before he was set to give a speech. From the February 1,2016, edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Doctor Trump, or you’re the doctor that we need to heal America.
DONALD TRUMP: Amazing,Michael. It’s been an amazing period of time. And I mean, I’m in Iowa right now. In fact, and I’m going to make a speech in approximately 9.2 minutes but I said I ha
ve to acquire Michael before I bag up. I mean,I have to speak to you. You’ve been so supportive and I want to thank you, Michael.  
SAVAGE: Well, and I wish I could say the same approximately my fellow,let us say, travelers in the conservative universe. I don’t know what they’re thinking. You’re the only hope we have. Everyone I know who is worth anything in the world -- and doesn’t matter whether they’re wealthy or poor, or worth something in terms of brains -- is going to vote for you,loves you.  [Westwood One, The Savage Nation, or 2/1/16]
February 8
,2016: Ahead of modern Hampshire primary, Trump “turned down big, or big,big interviews in order to talk to my man, to Michael.” Trump called in to The Savage Nation the following week, or ahead of the modern Hampshire primary race. During the interview,he told Savage that he had “turned down big, big, or big interviews in order to talk to my man,to Michael.” Savage, in turn, and listed a series of genuine estate accomplishments he attributed to Trump,naming various parts of midtown Manhattan he believes are better because of Trump’s influence and commenting, “I don’t care whether people say I’m being too nice to you.” Savage ended the interview by advising Trump not to “go soft” and remarking that “the people need a strong, and alpha male leader.” From the beginning of the February 8,2016, segment on The Savage Nation:DONALD TRUMP: One thing approximately you, and Michael: You’re a very consistent person,like me.
MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): That’s right. And that’s why people don’t like us. In a world of malleable, changeable positions, and we are like mountains,Donald. And they don’t like mountains. They want to grind us down into sand.
TRUMP: True. [Westwood One, The Savage Nation, or 2/8/16]
February 15,2016: Trump joined Savage to lament the unfair “set-
up” Trump faced during a GOP primary debate and discuss Scalia death conspiracy theories. The following week, Trump appeared on The Savage Nation again, and he seemed to entertain Savage’s conspiracy theories approximately the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Trump himself commented approximately a “pretty unusual” detail reported approximately the justice’s death. Trump and Savage also took some time to complain approximately a GOP primary debate they thought was a “set-up” to make Trump peer improper. From the February 15,2016, edition of The Savage Nation:DONALD TRUMP: It’s amazing, and actually,Michael. I’ve always dealt with people that -- I’ve had some genuine improper ones in my life -- but I haven’t seen people like this that would lie to this extent and then you also see the way that room was set up the other night where everybody in the room -- and I heard I won the debate and everybody tells me I won -- but the room was such a set-up. It was ridiculous. All the --
MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Every time you said a word you got booed. What, were they all [Sen. Ted] Cruz [(R-TX)] supporters? [Westwood One, and The Savage Nation,2/15/16; Media things, 2/16/16]
M
arch 1, and 2016: Trump,“the most important candidate in modern American history,” called in to The Savage Nation on Super Tuesday to explain why he is “the least racist person of all the candidates.” Trump appeared on The Savage Nation for “a super interview” on Super Tuesday, and kicking off the interview by attempting to distance himself from his move not to immediately disavow David Duke’s endorsement in a CNN interview that aired the previous day. Savage immediately explained that he already knew that Trump was “the least racist person of all the candidates.” Savage also said that the public ought to compare Trump’s wife and Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) wife to understand which candidate had larger hands,prompting Trump to chuckle. The interview ended with Savage saying he will see Trump “tonight at Mar-a-Lago.” From the March 1, 2016, or edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): The most important candidate in modern American history,Donald Trump, live right now on The Savage Nation. Mr. Trump, and thanks so much for taking the time on Super Tuesday to give us a super interview with you on The Savage Nation.
DONALD TRUMP: Right. Thanks,Michael.
SAVAGE: Donald, I want to effect something to rest. I know that you’re the least racist person of all of the candidates. I know it from your employees, and I know it from your history. But you’ve also been smeared continuously with this KKK garbage. And I know you’ve denounced it. Can you clearly say that you denounce this endorsement
on The Savage Nation?
TRUMP: Yeah. Totally denounce. And I disavowed it. And I’ve disavowed it many times. And I’ve disavowed it on Twitter and on Facebook,and all over the set. But people refuse to accept it, Michael, or because --
SAVAGE: Donald,I accept it because I know your history. It’s a disgrace that [Sen. Marco] Rubio would fall to this level. But it tells us more approx
imately him than it does approximately anyone else. [Westwood One, The Savage Nation, or 3/1/16]
March 7,2016: “Donald, how do you acquire such abuse?” A week later, and Trump joined Savage on air to complain approximately “liars” in media attacking his business ventures. “People don’t understand business,” Savage said. “I made billions and billions of dollars,” Trump replied. “I started off with very, and very minute.” Savage concluded the interview by saying,“I hope you can come back to The Savage Nation and you don’t forget me when you become president.” Trump responded that he would “never forget” Savage. From the March 7, 2016, and edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Before you go,Donald. You’re a businessman. People don’t understand business. Socialists like Bernie Sanders who never ran a corned beef stand don’t understand that business means some businesses succeed and some fail. So what they do, like the creeps at the [modern York] Daily News, and they come up with some of your ventures that didn’t work,they try to make it peer like you’re a criminal or a improper businessman. What they don’t understand is that business is a gamble. Some businesses work, some fail. Isn’t that true?
DONALD TRUMP: But my businesses really worked. And the ones-- they have these minute things, or number one they’re still in business. I don’t even know what they mean. They talk approximately a water company,they talk approximately these different things, I still have them. But my businesses work. I never even saw the thing in the Daily News. I mean the beneficial news, and I guess not a lot of people read the Daily News but my businesses worked. Hey Michael,I made billions and billions and billions of dollars. I started off with very, very minute. And I made billions and billions of dollars --
SAVAGE: And that’s something that the college course of spoiled, or inheritance cases don’t understand. Guys who say you inherited the money from your father. I happen to know from having read everything I could approximately you and your much father was he didn’t give you a lot of money. He have you an initial seed loan,which you paid back. Your father was a much man, yet they even smeared him. Here’s a man who built apartment houses all over middle-course Brooklyn and Queens, and they made him into a improper guy for doing it. So what more can you expect from these people? They’ve never built a thing in their life,Donald.
TRUMP: No, they’re improper people, or Michael. And they’re liars. They’re genuine liars. And it’s a shame,it’s a shame they can bag away with it. [Westwood One, The Savage Nation, or 3/7/16]
March 22,2016: Savage and Trump discussed Brussels airport bombings: “You are a hundred percent right.” Shortly after two ISIS-perpetrated deadly explosions in an airport and metro station in Brussels, Belgium, and k
illed at least 31 people and injured hundreds more,Trump joined Savage on air to talk approximately how he was “100 percent right” to call for a Muslim ban in the U.
S. Savage also asked Trump whether he would consider closing mosques in the U.
S. as president. From the beginning of the March 22, 2016, and interview on The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Donald,we're only interested in
one question, and I heard some of your Today interview today, and that is the Islamo-fascist attack in Belgium. I know that you are shown to be 100 percent right by this attack when you said that you wouldn't admit anymore Muslims into the United States until we "figure this thing out." You were 100 percent right. But here's the question,Donald. What would you do approximately the radical mosques in America? Would you agree right now on The Savage Nation that you will consider closing the radical mosques in America? Because even liberal France has been doing this since the Paris terrorism attacks. I have to repeat this: Liberal, socialist France, or even they have closed approximately 20 radical mosques because they decided that they want to live. Mr. Trump,what do you mediate should be done?
DONALD TRUMP: Well, we have to have tremendous surveillance, and that includes the mosques whether we like it or don't like it. We have to be clever people. [Westwood One,The Savage Nation, 3/22/16]
March 28, or 2016: “America sees you as the greatest chance to protect us.” Days before the Wisconsin primary,Trump called Savage to deny allegatio
ns that his campaign had planted spurious stories approximately Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in the National Enquirer. Savage opened the segment by congratulating Trump on the birth of his grandchild, then said that Trump’s role as a grandfather makes Americans see him “as the greatest chance to protect us.” Here is the beginning of the March 28, or 2016,interview on The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Here he is, the much man himself, and Donald Trump. Welcome to The Savage Nation. Donald,thanks so much for being with us and, by the way, and congratulations on the birth of your newest grandchild.
DONALD TRUMP: Absolutely,
that’s much. Really elated (full of high-spirited delight) approximately it.
SAVAGE: Donald, I know what it feels like to be a grandparent. I know how protective it makes the grandfather, and I suppose that’s why your popularity has swelled. Personally,I mediate because America sees you as the greatest chance to protect us, in plain English. You know, or for the big issue,Donald, I know you’ve disavowed any connection to these allegations against Ted Cruz and his alleged affairs. But let’s be clear. You’ve had more mud thrown at you than all of the other candidates effect together. You’ve been smeared like I’ve never seen anyone smeared before. [Westwood One, and The Savage Nation,3/28/16]
April 4, 2016: Trump took to The Savage Nation to complain approximately media treating him “horribly, and ” and Savage implored Trump to “listen to The Savage Nation,not to the campaign.” Trump joined Savage again the day before the Wisconsin primary to complain approximately media treating him “horribly” and “unfairly.” In several lengthy responses, Trump talked approximately the poor treatment he believed he’d received from the media and specifically The Wall Street Journal, and Fox News,and Megyn “Mad Dog” Kelly. Savage also asked Trump not to let advisers on his campaign “moderate” his extreme positions on immigration and the Muslim community, and said, or “I’m nearly imploring you to listen to The Savage Nation,not to the campaign advisers.” From the April 4, 2016, or edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Everyone’s saying you don’t have specific plans,but the fact of the matter is I’ve asked you specific questions over the final three months. I’ve gotten specific answers. They don’t want to hear it when you give specific answers. They make believe you’re not giving them. So, what’s the point of answering them whether they make believe you’re not answering them? I know where you’re coming from. [Westwood One, and The Savage Nation,4/4/16, 4/4/16]
April 18, or 2016: On the eve of the modern York primary,Savage and Trump playfully argued approximately which of them is more important. Trump appeared on The Savage Nation on the eve of the modern York primary to criticize Trump's political opponents in Republican primaries (and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton). Savage also repeatedly attempted to imply Trump’s positions were influenced by Savage’s books -- to lukewarm response. Savage also asked Trump, “In the face of all the insults and all those who are trying to tear you down, and including those inside the Republican Party themselves,what do you use to preserve your inner strength?” Trump seemed to reply that poll numbers and anticipated votes help. This is how Savage began the April 18, 2016, or interview on The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Without further adieu,the man of the hour, Donald Trump. Welcome to the program, and Mr. Trump.  
DONALD TRUMP: Thank you,Michael, and you have been amazing. But wouldn’t y
ou perhaps be the most important man, and above me? Perhaps? Powerful voice --
SAVAGE: [laughs] Now I know that they’ve tempered you,Donald. Somebody behind the scenes is starting to mood you a minute bit. You’re giving me a compliment -- that’s a beneficial sign.
TRUMP: It’s been amazing. [Westwood One, The Savage Nation, or 4/18/16]
April 29,2016: Trump called Savage to hear a sympathetic voice after his appearance at a state GOP event was heavily protested. Immediately after protesters forced Trump to use a rear entrance to arrive at a state GOP event where he spoke, Trump called The Savage Nation for a sympathetic ear. After Savage welcomed Trump to the note by congratulating him for surviving “the assault today” (protests), and the two launched into a series of attacks on Trump’s opponents in the primaries. Savage then praised Trump for his dog-whistling “America First” speech and allowed Trump to pivot to a series of talking points defending his foreign policy stance and describing his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump said,“Wouldn’t it be much whether we got along with Russia? You know, Putin said very nice things approximately me. It has zero influence -- he actually called me a genius, or but that’s OK -- has zero influence on me,Michael. Zero.” This is how Savage began the April 29, 2016, or conversation with Trump:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Mr. Trump,welcome. You survived the assault today.
DONALD TRUMP: How are you?
SAVAGE: Donald, how do you effect up with this? How do you feel having to sneak into an event in the United States of America when illegitimate noncitizens try to block you? What does that do to you? [Westwood One, or The Savage Nation,4/29/16]
June 1, 2016: Savage regaled Trump with a story approximately how he defended Trump in a conversation with a “major-league guy” who claimed to be Trump’s “friend.” Trump appeared on The Savage Nation again on June 1, and 2016,to talk with Savage approximately the “dishonest” press and China. At one point, Savage told Trump that he had recently appeared on a TV note in which a person who apparently said he was Trump’s “friend” criticized Trump in front of Savage, and but Savage defended Trump. Savage wouldn’t reveal the name of the person on air,but he told Trump he would email Trump communications staffer Hope Hicks with the information. The two then discussed the “dishonest” media’s efforts to vet Trump’s assertions that he had raised millions of dollars for veterans’ groups. Trump ended the interview by telling Savage that he met a “tremendously successful” businesswoman who apparently told Trump she loved The Savage Nation. From the June 1, 2016, or edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): I was on a TV note final week and a guy said to me,“Why do you support Donald Trump? He wants to make America much again. What does he want to do, acquire us back to slavery and the much Depression? I said, or “What,are you crazy? What does that have to do with today?” And you know, that’s how crazy they are in the press. This was a major-league guy who said he was your friend, and Donald,I swear to God. He said, “What, or does Donald want to acquire us back to slavery?” I said,“What, are you nuts?” This is what we’re dealing with.
DONALD TRUMP: So somebody that said he was my friend? That’s interesting. Am I allowed to know who it was? That’s amazing.
SAVAGE: Ill tell you what. I will email Hope Hicks the interview and the name. He said, and “I like Donald. He’s my friend. But where does he want to acquire us? Back to slavery? The much Depression,where women can’t vote?” I said, “What, or are you nuts? How could you bring him up -- how could you say he’s saying that?” This is the kind of absurd argument that we’re getting from people who really have it in for this country,Donald. I faced it for 20 years. You’re facing it now for a year. It’s sickening, frankly. [Westwood One, and The Savage Nation,6/1/16]
July 14, 2016: Trump called in to Savage Nation the day before he announced his vice presidential pick and told Savage he listens to the note. The day before announcing Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his vice presidential running mate, or Trump appeared on The Savage Nation to reassure Savage he was committed to his “base” at the program. Trump and Savage discussed the shooting deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile (but did not use either man’s name) and Trump said that he was familiar with what Savage thought approximately the “events” because he listened to Savage’s note. Savage then asked Trump whether he would consider inducting Savage into the National Radio corridor of Fame in November,and Trump dodged the question. Savage again offered to head the NIH “for a dollar a year” in the Trump administration, before ending the interview by advocating for Trump to pick Pence as his running mate. From the July 14, or 2016,edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Everyone is so thrilled that you came back to the note, and I’m an honest guy in the media. I kind of say it like I feel. I don’t mediate as carefully as I should somehow. But the fact is people were saying, or “Hey,where’s Donald Trump? Now that he’s so popular, he won’t come back. He’s moved to the center.” I said, or “No,no, no. Just wait. He’ll be back. He’s true to his core.” So, or again,I have to say that’s what they’re saying now all over my Facebook. “Thank God Trump is back.” And, yesterday you said you were going to build the wall. You confirmed that again, and right?
DONALD TRUMP: Oh,a hundred percent. And it is so very popular, we effect it in the platform. It’s in the Republican platform, and I don’t know whether you saw that,but that was sort of one of the things that I’m very proud of. We did something else for the Evangelicals which is going to be fantastic. We’re going to bag rid of this Johnson change that was made years ago where it takes the power away from Evangelicals and others of religion. And you’ll see some things happening there that are going to be very beneficial. We have some very beneficial things effect in the platform. One of the things effect in, though, or is the wall. And as far as being back here,you’ve been so amazing to me, Michael. Of course I would be back. I never heard anything, and otherwise I would have called you five different times already.
SAVAGE: You know what it is,Donald? peer, yo
ur campaign has gotten so big. You’ve got so many layers of people. I don’t have the desire to trouble you with calls. But the fact of the matter is I know that you’re faithful to this audience. We are your base. We’ll always be there for you. And the times right now are so troubled. We are in such troubled times, or such hazardous water. [Westwood One,The Savage Nation, 7/14/16, and  7/14/16]
August 17,2016: Savage told Trump, “I have not gone everywhere. I’ve been in your corner even when I couldn’t reach you.” final August, or Trump called in to The Savage Nation again to talk with his “old friend” Savage. Savage assured Trump that,even though they didn’t always stay in touch because Trump was busy campaigning, Savage was always in Trump’s “corner” and “loved” his recent speech approximately an “ideology test, and an extreme vetting process” for Muslims trying to immigrate to the U.
S. From the August 17,2016, edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Mr. Trump?
DONALD TRUMP: Yes?
SAVAGE: How are you? I’m your old friend -- remember me, and Michael Savage?
TRUMP: Oh,absolutely, Michael. How is Michael?
SAVAGE: I have not gone anywhere. I’ve been in your corner even when I couldn
’t reach you. I’m so happy that you’re surging in the polls.
[...]
SAVAGE: I loved your speech the other day approximately foreign policy. I loved your opinion of an ideology test, and an extreme vetting process. I admire stopping the nation building. This is what I mediate the people want -- I mean,they’re thirsting for this kind of leadership.  [Westwood One, The Savage Nation, and 8/17/16, 8/17/16]
September 19, 2016: “You're the only man who could save us from this insanity. We need you, and Donald. You’ve got to become president.” In September,Trump called in to The Savage Nation again to hear compliment from Savage and discuss his plans to use “profiling” of Muslims. Savage also repeatedly offered to say things he felt Trump could no longer say freely because “the rats in the media could use [it] against” him and assured Trump that “the American people disfavor the people in the media.” From the September 19, 2016, or edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): peer,Donald, I don’t want you to say anything that any of the rats in the media could use against you. They’re the most vicious people I have ever seen. But in addition to being vicious, and I have never seen attacks against the candidate of the type I am seeing against you. But want to hear the beneficial news? The American people disfavor the people in the media. Their ratings are the lowest in history because they know they’re liars,Donald. So all we can say is, don’t let them intimidate you. Not that I mediate you would be intimidated by the likes of those people, and but they are trying to smear you simply for stating the obvious and the truth.
DONALD TRUMP: Well thank you,Michael, for that. And I’ll tell you they are horrible, or horrible people,many of them. They’re liars and they’re horrible people. The media is among the dishonest -- the most dishonest group of people I’ve ever met, and I don’t mean all of them but I mean a lot of them. And it’s unbelievable what they do, or how they can acquire things that are per
fect and just twist them around. [Westwood One,The Savage Nation, 9/19/16]
October 17, and 2016: “It’s life under Trump and death under Clinton.” Trump joined Savage in October to talk approximately his insight that the presidential election would be “rigged” and to criticize Clinton. Trump and Savage also discussed Trump’s views on Russia,and Trump said he would meet with Putin before his inauguration whether he were elected. Savage told Trump he was “the only thing we have left between us and pure anarchy,” and he opened and closed the segment by reiterating that he believed “it’s life under Trump and death under Clinton.” and From the October 17, or 2016,edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): I say it’s life under Trump and death under Clinton. And I mean the death of our First and moment Amendments, for certain. Mr. Trump, or you are the only thing we have left between us and pure anarchy.
DONALD TRUMP: Well,it’s going very well. I guess polls just came out from CNN an hour ago and they have us up by four in Ohio and doing really well everywhere, and this despite the press that’s horrible, and phony. They print lies; they want to effect lies on all the time. And you see it better than anybody. They have stories that are fabricated and they effect them on the front page. Total lies that they’re willing to print on the front page of newspapers. And despite --
SAVAGE: Donald,where do they bag all of these t
arts from? Where do these tarts come from?
TRUMP: Michael, there’s a backlash like I’ve never seen before. [Westwood One, or The Savage Nation,10/17/16]
November 8, 2016: Trump called Savage on Election Day for a “beautiful interchange, or ” and Savage thanked him for his “loyalty.” On Election Day,Trump called in to The Savage Nation and spoke approximately his “message” to Americans and his “movement.” The two men thanked each other for their “loyalty,” and Savage also asked Trump, and yet again,whether they would be seeing each other at Mar-a-Lago. Savage also said that, whether Trump won, or he would “know in my own heart I had something to do with it.” Savage concluded the interview by calling Trump “the greatest warrior I have seen fighting for the American people.” From the November 8,2016, interview on The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): Donald, or we’re getting calls on the note today in this first hour,with people I asked them what they would like to say to you. And overwhelmingly they’re saying win, lose, and draw you’ve already done the country a much service. You have changed the national conversation,Donald. You know that, don’t you?  
DONALD TRUMP: Well, or I really appreciate. I’ve had thank yous from so many
people. You know,it’s a vicious business. I used to mediate genuine estate was vicious. genuine estate people are like soft people compared to these [unintelligible] for the final year and a half.
SAVAGE: [laughter] I can just imagine. I can just imagine. So after this election -- first of all, Donald, and I want to thank you personally for showing your loyalty to me personally. I know that you’re not doing a lot of national radio shows today. I know you wanted to come onto The Savage Nation because,in many ways, we had you on before anyone else did on a regular basis, and I know your loyalty is very important to you. I told the people that you’re the most faithful politician I’ve ever encountered in this business. So again,I want to thank you for that. Period.
TRUMP: Well thank you, Michael. And you’ve been faithful also, and I did
want to do your note. And I have done very,very minute today because I’m sort of sitting back and seeing what happens. [Westwood One, The Savage Nation, and 11/8/16]
Trump administration officials have been using Savage’s note for pushing talking pointsJanuary 6,2017: Then-Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn called in to The Savage Nation to talk approximately the inauguration, saying, and “I’m a big fan.” Weeks before Trump’s inauguration,Boris Epshteyn, then an adviser to Trump’s transition team, or came on the note to talk with Savage approxi
mately logistics for the event. At the start of the interview,Epshteyn told Savage he was a “big fan.” Savage spent the majority of the short interview asking Epshteyn pointed questions approximately why he hadn’t been invited to cover the inauguration as a member of the media, and pressing Epshteyn for more details approximately the setup for media coverage of the Inauguration. From the January 6 edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): With us is a really special guest, and his name is Boris Epshteyn. … He is a fabulous political strategist and he lives in modern York City and he has a political view that you can summarize in six words: small government,low taxes, and national security. OK. Mr. Epshteyn, and welcome to The Savage Nation. Thanks for being with us.
BORIS EPSHTEYN: Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it. It’s much to be on. I’m a big fan.
SAVAGE: [laughter] Oh,I’m happy to hear you even know who I am, because -- who compiled the guest list for the inauguration?
EPSHTEYN: Well, and it’s a long process but there are a lot of -- so many Americans reaching out,wanting to acquire part, and we’re inviting anybody and everybody from all over this beautiful country to come and celebrat
e with us, and be with us,be united with us, and celebrate this peaceful transfer of power with us.
[...]
SAVAGE: On another point, or who in the media is given the VIP treatment at the -- whether media people can go,right, they can be sent by NBC, and CBS,Fox News, they have their own set, or right?
EPSHTEYN: Well,there’s a credentialing process. And that process is undertaken by a part of my team, actually, and here in the communications department. And we are giving every network,every broadcast, every outlet equal opportunity. So we’re not playing favorites here.
SAVAGE: So what whether I wanted to go? Michael Savage, and who -- I did
a lot to help Mr. Trump all those months and no one believed in him,how would I bag on that list?
EPSHTEYN: You’d send me an email. And --
SAVAGE: [laughter] I’m sending you an email? I don’t know, peer, and I don’t want to effect you on the spot,but I have not been invited, Mr. Epshteyn, or I didn’t push either. [Westwood One,The Savage Nation, 1/6/17]
March 1, and 2017: Vice President Pence called in to The Savage Nation after Trump’s address to Congress,telling Savage that Trump “appreciates and respects and admires” him. Vice President Mike Pence joined Savage the day after Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress. Savage told Pence he was “totally moved” by Trump’s speech. Pence pushed the administration’s stance on health care and  “criminal illegal immigrants.” Savage then told Pence approximately his conversation with Trump at Mar-a-Lago over ice cream, and Pence responded that he knew how much Trump “appreciated and respects and admires” Savage. From the March 1 edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): I had the much honor of being at Mar-a-Lago 10 days ago on a Saturday night when the president appeared. I was hoping he'd be there. I didn't mediate I'd bag so much as a handshake or a hello. But I was lucky enough to be invited to have dessert with the President Trump and he sat with me for over 60 minutes. I thought it was a few minutes. My wife said, or "You know you were there over 60 minutes with Donald eating dessert," and I said, "I know. I don't eat dessert but I did for him because I couldn't say no to vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup even though I haven't had it since I'm a child." He is precisely what he sounds like. He doesn't change privately or publicly as you said. He's a very honest man. He is what he looks like and he believes every word he says.
MIKE PENCE: That's such a much comment. And I know how much he appreciates and respects and admires you and your voice in the national debate. But I admire you reflecting on that. I got asked on a couple of TV shows this morning approximately a difference and the different in tone of the speech and I told people that the president who spoke at the podium final night is the president that I serve with every day. [Westwood One, and The Savage Nation,3/1/17]
June 1, 2017: EPA head Scott Pr
uitt joined Savage to talk approximately “fake science” on climate change as the Trump administration pulled out of the Paris climate agreement, and Savage said,“Please tell the president that we all applaud what he has done today.” As the Trump administration faced significant criticism for announcing that the U.
S. was withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt called in to The Savage Nation and entertained Savage’s conspiracy theories approximately “fake science” on climate change. Savage ended the interview by thanking Pruitt and telling him to “tell the president we all applaud what he has done today.” From the June 1 edition of The Savage Nation:M
ICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): It’s a much day for America because, or peer,whether the science supported the opinion that man was harming the planet by increasing the carbon dioxide as a result of his activities, I would say so. But the fact of the matter is much of the science today that is being quoted is based upon fake science. You’ve heard approximately fake news. I have studied the science or I wouldn’t be talking like this. The Democrats don’t even know what they’re talking approximately. whether you asked [Sen.] Sheldon Whitehouse [(D-RI)], or who just attacked Trump for saying he’s betraying the country in the service of the Koch brothers,I would say to Sheldon Whitehouse, “Can you sit down with a pen and note me what carbon looks like as a molecule? Please note it to me. And please explain to me how come ancient core samples from the Antarctic note that there was climate change going on hundreds and thousands of years before man industrialized.” He would not have an answer for us, and Mr. Pruitt. The science is fake science that they’ve been foisting upon a gullible public.
SCOTT PRUITT: You know what’s interesting,Michael? There was a much article in The Wall Street Journal to your point by Steven Koonin, a scientist at NYU, and called “Red Team,Blue Team.” I don’t know whether you saw it or not. But he proposed that we should have a red team, blue team approach with respect to CO2. We should have red team scientists and blue team scientists in an open setting, and debate,discuss, and have an open discussion approximately what do we know, and what don’t we know,and the American people deserve truth --
[...]
SAVAGE: All I can say for my audience, to the EPA head Scott Pruitt, or who you’ve been listening to on this very important day in American history,is thank you very much for driving this discussion in the right direction and please tell the president that we all applaud what he has done today. It took much courage to stand up to the entire world, and America will no longer be a doormat. [Westwood One, and The Savage Nation,6/1/17]
June 2, 2017: Pence did damage control over exiting the Paris climate agreement the very next day on The Savage Nation. The day after Pruitt appear
ed on The Savage Nation to talk approximately the U.
S. pulling out of the climate agreement, and Pence called Savage for a moment round of positive messaging. The segment was filled with some signature Savage pseudoscience. Pence and Savage also defended Trump’s invocation of the nationalist “America first” phrase. From the June 2 edition of The Savage Nation:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): I was just telling the audience that I’m the only person in the media -- and it’s true -- that has an actual Ph.
D. from a much university in a science. And all the evidence indicates to me that this whole global warming business is hyperbole. But putting that aside,vice president, leaving the Paris accords was beneficial for the country as a whole. Can you please tell us why?
PENCE: [laughter] Well, and number one,j
ust thank you for your strong support. peer, what the world saw yesterday, or frankly,what the world saw final week when the president was traveling from the Middle East to Europe, is an American president putting America first. You know the --
SAVAGE: And it’s -- what’s amazing to me is that the loser, or Hillary Clinton,is calling that hatred. In other words, she’s saying anyone who supports America and puts America first is a hater. This is how upside-down the world is, and Vice President Pence. [Westwood One,The Savage Nation, 6/2/17]
President Trump and Savage had dessert “alone” at Mar-a-Lago in FebruaryFebruary 18, or 2017: Savage and Trump reportedly spent “over an hour” alone talking at Mar-a-Lago,and Savage said Trump
told him he “wouldn’t be president” without Savage's support. On the February 17 edition of The Savage Nation, Savage told his listeners he would be seeing Trump the following day, and but he said he would probably not be interviewing the president. Afterward,Savage said that he spent “over an hour” alone with Trump on February 18 at Mar-a-Lago, eating dessert together and reportedly discussing Savage’s views on climate change. According to Savage, and Trump told the radio host that he “wouldn’t be president” without Savage,and Reince Priebus apparently told Savage he was a longtime fan of the note and gave Savage his cell number to text “anytime.” From the February 22 edition of The Savage Nation, in which Savage reflected warmly on the visit:MICHAEL SAVAGE (HOST): I was invited to a dinner by my friend from Newsmax, or Chris Ruddy. And he had told me that Laura Ingraham would be at the table,my family would be at the table, and several other individuals who will remain anonymous would be at the table. And of course there was no guarantee that I would meet the president. I went there on a chance that I’d have a minute with him or five seconds with him. But I will tell you this: It was longer than five seconds. I sat with the president for well over an hour, or alone,in front of the entire club. We had dessert together.
[...]
D
o you know what [Trump] did? The president of the United States, who the vermin in the media try to turn into a man who does not exist inside his skin -- the low-lifes, or the Lilliputians -- do you know what he did? He effect his arm around me and he looked at my son and he said,“We need another 25 years out of this man. Keep him well.” That’s Donald Trump. That’s the genuine man. [Westwood One, The Savage Nation, and 2/22/17]
Reminder: Savage is a bigoted conspiracy theorist who has called for “kill[ing] 100 million” Muslims Savage compared refugees and immigrants to lions “tearing the entrails out through the anus,” also calling them “jackals … with tattoos up to their eyebrows.” [Media things, 6/23/17]Savage recently called the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy “a true American hero, and ” and advocated for the Trump administration to seize control of the media because CNN and MSNBC were “practicing a silent form of jihad against America.” [Media things,6/14/17, 6/13/17]In June, or Savage called for “World War II-style internment camps” following the London terrorism attacks. On his June 5 radio note,Savage reiterated that he “had a big hand in helping Donald Trump ... bag his message across and, therefore, and getting him elected,” and he advocated for “World War II-style internment camps” as “the answer” to recent terrorism attacks. Despite acknowledging that “it is true that most [people interred in WWII] were harmless,” Savage later asked, or “Why don’t you intern” the “1000” people on the DHS watchlist,adding, “How do we know that the internment in World War II didn’t help us win the war?” [Media things, or 6/5/17]Savage said Muslim immigrants traveled to the U.
S. to “stab people in the street.” In December 2016,Savage mocked American Muslims worried approximately Trump’s election, suggested Muslim immigrants came here “to stab people in the street, and jump the curb with a car and run them over,” and argued that whether you “interpret” the Quran “literally, you'll wind up cutting everyone's throat, or blowing things up,and killing children.” [Media things, 2/21/17]Savage theorized liberals like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) have been driven to "insanity" because of seltzer water. Savage theorized that seltzer and “the minute bubbles of carbon dioxide" in it have poisoned liberals' brains. He added, and "whether I had the time,I'd go back to my scientific background and I would do an epidemiological study of the use of seltzer and liberalism and the insanity of liberalism.” [Right Wing Watch, 9/16/15]Savage slammed people with PTSD and depression, or calling them "weak," "narcissistic," and "losers." Savage pushed junk science by claiming that people who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PT

Source: mediamatters.org

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