Trump campaign targets Martha Raddatz, claims ‘Fake News is melting down’

Former President Trump’s 2024 reelection campaign targeted ABC News’s Martha Raddatz on Sunday, taking the opportunity to criticize the media and claim that “Trump derangement syndrome was on full display” during the network’s political news program earlier in the day.

Raddatz hosted ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, which featured an interview with Trump surrogate Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and a panel with Trump supporters.

“Martha Raddatz’s Trump Derangement Syndrome was on full display this morning — as she nearly fought back tears, just as she did on Election Night 2016,” the campaign said in a statement. “After President Trump’s dominant and historic victories in both Iowa and New Hampshire, the Fake News is melting down, and it’s never been more obvious.”

Raddatz did not appear to “fight back tears” during the show, as the campaign claims. 

Her interview with Scott on Sunday did feature her pushing Scott when the senator avoided a question about the $83 million defamation ruling against Trump this week, and another on his thoughts about Trump’s attacks against rival Nikki Haley.

Raddatz tried several times to try and get him to stay on topic.

“I want to talk about Donald Trump,” Raddatz said at one point when Scott pivoted to focusing on Haley. “Please — please answer the question about him calling her a birdbrain.”

“But let’s …,” Scott began to say.

“You worked with her. She appointed you a senator. Do you like that kind of language?” Raddatz asked.

“His language is far more provocative than mine,” Scott responded.

Scott, who suspended his 2024 bid late last year, quickly threw his support behind Trump instead of Haley, who appointed him as a senator.

Raddatz was one of two moderators, along with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, of a notorious debate between Trump and then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016. That debate featured testy back-and-fourths between Trump and the moderators and was notable due to the candidates not shaking hands at the beginning and Trump inviting accusers of Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, to sit in the audience.