At CNBC debate, Donald Trump denounces super PACs, rivals who rely on them

Donald Trump denounces super PACs
(Image credit: CNBC/YouTube)

A lot of Republicans at Wednesday night's debate lobbed criticism at Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the self-described democratic socialist running for the Democratic presidential nomination. But it turns out that Donald Trump and Sanders have something in common: Neither has a super PAC supporting them. (Trump is largely self-financing, while Sanders is taking in mostly small donations.) And like all the Democrats, Trump is opposed to super PACs.

"Super PACs are a disaster, they're a scam, they cause dishonesty, and you'd better get rid of them," Trump said on Wednesday. "Because they are causing a lot of bad decisions to be made by some very good people. And I'm not blaming these people," he said, pointing at his rivals on the stage, adding to laughter, "but, I guess I could." He repeated that super PACs cause good people to make bad decisions, then said that if "anything comes out of this whole thing, with some of these nasty and ridiculous questions, I will tell you: You'd better get rid of these super PACs, because they're causing a big problem in this country," citing how they favor lobbyists and "special interests." Watch below. Peter Weber

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.