Trump uses tribute to 'legend' Rush Limbaugh on Fox News to claim he DID win election and that 'there would have been riots if it had happened to a Democrat'
President Donald Trump called in to Fox News Wednesday to offer his tribute to talk host Rush Limbaugh – who he said shared his own beliefs that the election was stolen.
'Rush thought we won. And so do I,' said Trump in the extended interview.
Trump used the segment to vent about the election, having skipped Joe Biden's inauguration after weeks claiming it had been rigged.
'I think it's disgraceful what happened. We were like a Third World country on election night,' Trump said.
'I was disappointed by voter tabulation. I think it's disgraceful what happened,' Trump said, in his first live comments since his Senate acquittal at the end of his impeachment trial on Saturday.
'I think we won substantially. And Rush thought we won,' Trump continued from his home at Mar-a-Lago, where he has been since January 20. He had been on the golf course with Kid Rock just before Limbaugh's death was announced.
In a written tribute, Trump said that Limbaugh had 'passed away to a better place, free from physical pain and hostility' and called him a 'guiding light with the ability to see the truth.'
His wife Melania tweeted that Limbaugh was a 'fearless American patriot.'
Limbaugh was one of Donald Trump's most ardent supporters. The ex-president called Fox News to pay tribute to him shortly after his death was announced
Calling from Mar-a-Lago: Donald Trump played golf at his course near his new permanent home in Florida just before the announcement of Rush Limbaugh's death
Also on the course: Trump was accompanied by Kid Rock as he played golf Wednesday
On Fox Trump said, speaking of early vote tabulations that weren't official as states processed vote tallies: 'He thought it was over at 10 o'clock, 10:30 it was over,' Trump said.'
Then he revisited the split in the Republican Party over his discredited election fraud claims.
'I don't think that could have happened to a Democrat. You would have had riots going all over the place if that happened to a Democrat. We don't have the same support at certain levels of the Republican system,' he said, without naming names.
Trump bashed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Tuesday in a blistering statement after McConnell denounced his conduct Jan. 6th as well as his claims the election was stolen.
Trump called Limbaugh a 'legend' and said for some people listening to him was 'like a religious experience' as he saluted the 70-year old who battled lung cancer.
The former president also continued to level conspiracy theories of the kind that made up 'Kraken' lawsuits that got thrown out of court.
He complained about 'the closing down of the centers and all the things that happened late into the evening. And he [Rush] was furious at it,' Trump said, without specifying.
Honor: Donald Trump awarded Rush Limbaugh with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the 2020 State of the Union, with First Lady Melania Trump putting it on the broadcaster
Golfing companion: Donald Trump golfed in April 2019 at his West Palm Beach course with Limbaugh
Tribute: Flowers were left at Rush Limbaugh's Palm Beach home, which is close to Mar-a-Lago
He said Limbaugh believed 'we should have had it. That we did have it. But he was somebody that felt that was a very important election.'
Trump said Limbaugh pegged his battle with cancer to the election, and sought to make it through November 3.
'His ambition was to hold out until after the election,' Trump said. 'He worked so hard to get through the election,' he added.
The former president spoke of their occasional conversations, shared views, and time golfing together. At several junctures, Trump spoke about Limbaugh's support for him and his presidency.
'He loved the people of this country so much. He was so happy with what we did. We rebuilt the military. All things that we did. We cut taxes, we cut regulations,' Trump said.
'He was with me right from the beginning,' Trump said of when he first connected with the conservative host during the 2016 campaign.
'And he liked what I said and he agreed with what I said and he was just a great gentleman.'
Host Bill Hemmer said interviewers had 'so many questions' for Trump that weren't appropriate 'for this venue' while they played tribute to the host.
Trump awarded Limbaugh the Medal of Freedom at his 2020 State of the Union speech.
