Trump: The GOP Convention’s Lower Television Ratings Had Nothing To Do With Me, I Just Showed Up To Speak

The Hill reports:

GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump distanced himself from the planning of last week’s Republican National Convention after the Democrats’ event, which ended Thursday, posted higher television ratings.

“I didn’t produce the show — I just showed up for the final speech on Thursday,” the Republican presidential nominee told The New York Times when asked about the differences between the two parties’ conventions.

Neilson ratings data obtained by the Los Angeles Times found that Democrats edged out Republicans during each of the first three nights of the convention. Ratings for Thursday night have not been released, so it is not yet possible to compare ratings for Trump’s and Democrat Hillary Clinton’s acceptance speeches.

From Mediaite:



In a departure from his usual rhetoric, Trump even declined to say which convention he thought was better. “I’ve liked both shows,” he said.

Trump’s sudden distancing comes after media reports indicated that he was heavily involved in the planning of the convention, while simultaneously betraying his ignorance of how conventions actually worked.

The Times reported that Trump didn’t even realize that the convention had to be held in Cleveland and tried to change the venue so he could enter in a helicopter. The Democratic National Convention has pulled in more viewers in ratings compared to last week’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland.