President Donald Trump ripped NBC's "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd as an on-air "monster" despite being "the nicest guy in the world" off air, Politico reported.
The president's comments came during the annual "off the record" pre-State of the Union lunch with major TV news anchors, where he was "more blunt and boastful than angry" unlike past meetings, according to the report.
In a particularly noteworthy exchange, Politico reported citing attendees, Trump ridiculed NBC News anchor Lester Holt for editing his famed 2017 interview in which he referenced the "Russia thing" as a reason for FBI Director James Comey's firing.
Among the other reported comments included his claims "95 percent of his coverage is bad," according to Politico.
Most of the luncheon, designed to give access to major TV news anchors before the annual State of the Union address, was off the record, but the White House did release some remarks.
"I want to see our country united," Trump said, adding he wanted "to bring our country back from a tremendous divisiveness."
Trump also vowed "govern with heart" in his new position vs. heading the Trump Organization.
"Having a business background and a successful business background is great, but oftentimes you do things that you would never do in business because you have to also govern with heart," Trump said.
Among the news anchors in attendance were: ABC's George Stephanopoulos and David Muir, CBS's Norah O’Donnell, Fox News' Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, CNN's Jake Tapper and Wolf Blitzer.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.