Trump accepts Jake Tapper interview invite, tells anchor he’s trying to move CNN onto a ‘normal path’

President Donald Trump agreed Sunday during a phone appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” to return for a broader interview with host Jake Tapper after calling in to discuss the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Tapper extended the invitation near the end of the interview after Trump declined to address several questions about the latest U.S. military action against Iran and the status of the Strait of Hormuz.

“Well, I know you don’t want to talk about any other issues out of respect for Lindsey Graham, but we would love to have you back sometime because I do have a lot of other questions for you, sir,” Tapper said.

Trump accepted the invitation without setting a date or specifying whether the future appearance would be conducted in person or by phone, saying, “Sure, we’ll do that. We’ll do that.” 

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President Donald Trump agreed to return for a broader interview with CNN host Jake Tapper. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

“We’re trying to have CNN go on a normal path, and we’ll do that,” Trump added.

Tapper responded, “Well, I’m on a normal path right here, sir, and I appreciate your time, and thank you for calling in.” 

“Good. You are,” Trump said.

The president joined the program to remember Graham, who died Saturday after returning to Washington from a trip to Ukraine. Trump said the senator called him Saturday evening and appeared tired from the trip but otherwise sounded well.

“He was full of vim and vigor. He was tired. He said, ‘I’m tired because it’s a long trip,’ but other than that, he was, he was fine,” Trump said.

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Trump said his administration was “trying to have CNN go on a normal path” as the interview ended. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Trump also told Tapper that Graham’s defense of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his 2018 confirmation hearing was what he considered the senator’s “finest moment.”

“I think his finest moment was his defense of Brett Kavanaugh, who’s a terrific guy,” Trump said. “I think it was a top 10, maybe a top 5 moment in the history of the Senate,” Trump said. “It was an incredible display, and he did it from the heart. He felt strongly about Brett, and he did it from the heart, and it turned that whole thing around.”

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Tapper told Trump he was “on a normal path right here” after inviting the president back to the network. (Bryan Bedder/Variety via Getty Images)

Tapper attempted to turn briefly to Iran, noting Graham’s support for recent U.S. strikes and asking whether the country was again at war. Trump declined to expand on the issue during a conversation centered on Graham.

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“Well, I don’t want to — out of respect for Lindsey, I’m not talking about that,” Trump said. “We hit them very hard last night. So I don’t want to talk about it, but I will say we hit them very hard last night.”