Top 20 Most Embarrassing Political Interview FAILS

[0:00] Should it be legal or not? [0:01] Well, you know... [0:02] Welcome to WatchMojo. [0:04] And today, we're counting down our picks for times when politicians put their foot in their mouth when talking to a journalist. [0:10] Our next-door neighbors are foreign countries. [0:12] They're in the state that I am the executive of. [0:17] Number 20. David Cameron with the Gay Times. [0:20] During an interview with the Gay Times, conservative leader David Cameron hoped to tout his party as being progressive on gay rights. [0:27] And I think that all center-right parties, all conservative parties, have to go on this journey. [0:31] I think we've probably gone a bit further and faster than some conservative parties in other countries. [0:36] Unfortunately, his colleagues were not as progressive on the issue as he was, which made his pitch much harder. [0:41] The MEPs have their own leader, they have their own group, and it's not something I just don't routinely look at the voting behavior and say, [0:50] will you do this rather than that? [0:51] Cameron struggled to answer for his party's voting record on gay rights. [0:54] Particularly, his European Parliament members vote on a resolution condemning an anti-gay law in Lithuania. [1:00] The Tory leader distanced himself before doing a reversal, [1:03] and saying he allows his colleagues to vote how they want on gay rights without whipping votes. [1:08] Cameron was uncomfortable, and during the interview, he asked to stop the cameras. [1:14] Number 19. Natalie Bennett LBC Radio Interview. [1:17] In February 2015, Green Party leader Natalie Bennett participated in an interview with Nick Ferrari on LBC that was widely considered a car wreck. [1:27] In terms of council housing, we want to build 500,000 new social rent homes. [1:32] That means council housing. [1:33] Where will you get the money from for that? [1:35] This was largely due to her thoughts on a proposed housing plan. [1:38] When pressed on how much money she thought it would take to give housing to 500,000 people, [1:43] she responded it would cost £2.7 billion. [1:45] We're looking at a total spend of £2.7 billion. [1:50] 500,000 homes, £2.7, what are they made of? Plywood. [1:55] That would average out to £5,400 per house, so that's just bad math. [2:01] The interview was a massive embarrassment for the Green Party. [2:04] That's not much more than a large conservatory, £60,000. [2:08] So how are you going to pay for the land? [2:12] Right, what we're looking at doing is basically... [2:16] When addressing the interviews, Bennett said she had experienced, quote, [2:22] mental brain fade. [2:24] Number 18. Ted Kennedy's Delayed Response [2:26] It's understandable when a political candidate flounders after being asked a complex question. [2:31] But Ted Kennedy failed to properly answer the easiest softball question ever asked. [2:36] Why do you want to be president? [2:41] Well, I'm... [2:45] During an interview with Roger Mudd on his 1980 presidential bid, [2:48] the late senator was asked why he wanted to be president. [2:51] This question was followed by an awkward pause that took too long, [2:55] followed by a response that in no way justified the length of his pause. [2:59] It just seems to me that this nation can cope and deal with its problems in a way that it has in the past. [3:07] The interview, particularly his failure to address this simple question, [3:11] was seen as a disaster that was partly responsible for dooming his presidential campaign. [3:16] You know, you have to come to grips with the different issues. [3:21] Number 17. Boris Johnson Gives Reporter the Cold Shoulder [3:25] On the eve of the 2019 parliamentary election, [3:28] Prime Minister Boris Johnson was helping out at a dairy in Leeds as part of a campaign event. [3:32] Hey, come on Good Morning Britain, Prime Minister, if you get the chance. [3:35] However, Jonathan Swain, a reporter for Good Morning Britain, [3:38] showed up hoping to get an interview right before the big election. [3:41] Johnson humored him, but he was able to give Swain the slip with the only exit available, [3:46] the dairy freezer. [3:48] Prime Minister, will you deliver on your promise to come on Good Morning Britain? [3:51] Of course I will. [3:52] While the Good Morning Britain team may have been disappointed with the rejection, [3:55] they were given an iconic awkward moment that is uniquely Johnson. [4:00] Number 16. Steve Scalise and George Stephanopoulos [4:03] It looked like a regular appearance on ABC's This Week for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise [4:08] in November 2023, until George Stephanopoulos brought up the 2020 election. [4:13] He said that you're one of those leaders who hasn't been unequivocal in saying it was a clean election, [4:17] that Joe Biden did not steal the election. Your response? [4:22] Well, Ken, I've worked with on a number of issues. [4:24] When Scalise was asked whether he thought the 2020 election was stolen or not, [4:28] the congressman avoided giving an affirmative yes or no. [4:31] Instead, he dodged the question, claiming that states didn't properly follow their election rules. [4:36] Can you say unequivocally that the 2020 election was not stolen? [4:41] What I've told you is there are states that didn't follow their laws. [4:44] Stephanopoulos stayed persistent, asking the question six times, [4:47] but Scalise wouldn't commit to a definite answer. [4:50] Yes or no, was the 2020 election stolen? [4:54] What I've told you is Joe Biden's the president of the United States, [4:57] and right now he's failing the country on so many fronts that matter to families. [5:00] The dance that Scalise did in avoiding the question made him look small. [5:05] Number 15. Jeremy Paxman and Chloe Smith [5:08] Poor economics secretary to the Treasury Chloe Smith had to answer for budget decisions when she went on Newsnight in June 2012. [5:15] When was the decision taken? [5:17] As I say, it's been under consideration for some time, the chancellor and the prime minister. [5:21] Host Jeremy Paxman was like a dog with a bone, repeatedly asking Smith about a fuel-duty U-turn. [5:26] Smith tried to spin undoing the tax hike as a gift to the taxpayer, but failed to explain how this money would be paid for. [5:33] The figure will be drawn from underspends in departmental budgets. [5:37] Yes. Where? [5:39] It was believed that Smith's boss George Osborne had set her up to fail by making this decision right before she was set to go on the show. [5:46] Number 14. Trump opens up to Lester Holt [5:49] After Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, the former president sat down with NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt to defend his decision. [5:57] Regardless of recommendation, I was going to fire Comey. [6:00] At first, Trump tried to justify the decision by claiming that Comey was unfit for the position. [6:05] But he eventually admitted that the Russian investigation was a motivating factor in firing Comey. [6:10] Are you angry with Mr. Comey because of his Russia investigation? [6:15] I just want somebody that's competent. [6:17] The interview caused a political firestorm, making it look like Trump had something to hide regarding alleged collusion between him and Russia. [6:25] It was even parodied on Saturday Night Live, where Michael Che as Lester Holt seemed surprised by the brazen admission. [6:31] Did I get him? Is this all over? [6:36] Nothing matters. Absolutely nothing matters anymore. [6:39] Number 13. Rob Ford's Substance Use Response [6:42] Most politicians would tread carefully when faced with a scandal related to alleged drug use, but not Rob Ford. [6:49] Do you smoke crack cocaine? [6:50] Exactly. Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine. [6:54] When the late Toronto mayor faced questions from reporters in 2013 over a rumored video of him smoking an illegal substance, he was frank about his experience. [7:03] Though Ford openly admitted to smoking crack, he denied having substance use disorder. [7:07] However, admitting to trying a powerful narcotic under a, quote, [7:11] drunken stupor doesn't help give the impression that he's in control. [7:15] Yes, I've made mistakes. I've made mistakes. All I can do now is apologize and move on. [7:19] While we want our elected leaders to be transparent, Rob Ford may have been too real. [7:24] Number 12. Nathan Dahm and Jon Stewart [7:27] Oklahoma State Senator Nathan Dahm attracted a lot of attention for an awkward interview he did on the Apple TV Plus show, The Problem with Jon Stewart. [7:35] You're saying more guns makes us more safe. [7:37] Yes. [7:38] So when? We got 400 million guns in the country. We had an increase and gun deaths went up. So when exactly does this curve hit? [7:50] During the interview, Stewart pressed Senator Dahm on his position regarding gun control, accusing the lawmaker of being negligent and hypocritical. [7:58] If you don't have background checks and you don't have registration and permitting, how do you know who has a problem in terms of the people who you're giving a gun to? [8:07] Stewart skewered the politician, who was barely able to respond to the well-positioned questions. [8:12] You want to say, I'm a Second Amendment purist and I'm making it safer. You're not. You're making it more chaotic. And that's not a matter of opinion. That's the truth. [8:22] That is a matter of opinion, Jon. [8:23] At first, Senator Dahm didn't see a problem with the appearance, but he later claimed that Stewart had selectively edited the interview to make him look bad. [8:32] Number 11. Gary Johnson is asked about Aleppo [8:35] In 2016, some voters were looking for an alternative to the two major party presidential candidates, and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson was getting a lot of attention. [8:44] And what is Aleppo? [8:47] You're kidding. No. [8:48] During an appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe, the former New Mexico governor was asked what he would do about Aleppo as president. [8:55] The question stumped Johnson, who was apparently unaware that Aleppo was at the center of a humanitarian crisis during the Syrian war. [9:03] It's just a mess. [9:04] The interview was seen as an embarrassing disaster highlighting Johnson's weakness in foreign policy. [9:10] The incident is so infamous that when Johnson was stumped during an interview later that year, he called it another, quote, Aleppo moment. [9:17] Name a foreign leader that you respect. I guess I'm having an Aleppo moment. [9:21] Number 10. James Diaz forgets the six-point plan [9:24] We're used to politicians dodging questions about actual policy plans as long as they can. [9:29] But Australian Liberal Parliament candidate James Diaz takes it to another level. [9:34] And we have a plan. We have a six-point plan to make sure that we do stop the boats. [9:38] Six points. Could you run through them for us? [9:39] Diaz was asked in an interview with Network 10 to detail his party's six-point plan to curb the influx of asylum seekers to the country. [9:47] Only he couldn't remember any of them. [9:50] Under Kevin Rudd, the boats... [9:51] There's six points. Turn back the boats. [9:54] Look, here's the thing. [9:56] Diaz proceeded to provide broad answers instead of his specific points and was asked to outline his party's plans several more times before the interview reached its merciful end. [10:05] Well, I've answered your question. [10:07] You've said turn back the boats. You told me it was a six-point plan. What about the other five points? [10:11] The blunder eventually went viral, and Diaz conceded defeat in the parliamentary election. [10:17] Number 9. Michael Grimm Threatens New York One Reporter [10:20] New Yorkers are famous for their no-nonsense hard-boiled attitudes, which can come out at some pretty inopportune moments. [10:27] After President Obama's 2014 State of the Union address, New York Congressman Michael Grimm was talking to New York One political reporter Michael Scotto about the speech. [10:36] When asked about fraud allegations he was facing, Grimm said he wouldn't be addressing it and walked off camera. [10:41] This is only about the president. [10:42] Well, what about... [10:43] Thank you. [10:44] But after it looked like Scotto had wrapped up his piece, Grimm threatened him with violence, only to find the camera was still on. [10:51] Let me be clear to you. You have to do that to me again. [10:54] Grimm apologized to Scotto the next day, and in the ultimate bit of poetic irony, was later arrested on those campaign fraud accusations that he fought so hard to dodge. [11:05] Number 8. Michael Howard Grilled by Jeremy Paxman [11:09] British ex-home secretary Michael Howard got a masterclass in the power of repetition after this embarrassment. [11:14] Mr. Howard, have you ever lied in any public statement? [11:17] Certainly not. [11:19] In this iconic 1997 interview on BBC's Newsnight, anchor Jeremy Paxman grills Howard over and over about whether he forced the hand of Derek Lewis, [11:28] Director General of Her Majesty's Prison Service, to fire a prison governor. [11:32] There, Paxman asks Howard a simple question. [11:34] Did you threaten to overrule him? [11:36] I was not... [11:36] And, when he doesn't answer it, he asks him again. [11:39] Did you threaten to overrule him? [11:41] The truth... [11:41] In total, Paxman asks Howard if he threatened to overrule Lewis 12 times. [11:46] Howard's reputation was damaged as a result of the controversy, while Paxman's questioning lives on in the hallowed halls of British journalism. [11:54] Number 7. Adam Bolton vs. Alistair Campbell [11:56] Following the 2010 United Kingdom general election, the newly elected Conservative Party was trying to craft a deal with the Liberal Democrat Party to form a coalition government. [12:06] Adam, I know that you've been sort of spending the last few years saying Gordon Brown's dead meat and he should be going anyway. [12:11] I've not been saying that. [12:12] It was creating some tensions, as seen in this interview featuring Sky News editor Adam Bolton and journalist Alistair Campbell. [12:18] The piece starts off civil, but then devolves into a shouting match between the two men, with Campbell accusing Bolton of a conservative bias, and Bolton telling Campbell to not tell him what he thinks. [12:29] I'm fed up with you telling me what I think. [12:30] I don't care what you're fed up with. [12:32] The whole thing was like watching a really classy train wreck. [12:35] Number 6. David Frost interviewing Richard Nixon [12:38] After being the first U.S. president to ever resign from office, Richard Nixon wisely spent a couple of years out of the public eye. [12:46] But in 1977, the disgraced ex-president returned to open up to the American people in a series of interviews with British reporter David Frost. [12:53] What did Haldeman tell you during the 18 and a half minute gap? [13:00] Haldeman's notes are the only recollection I have of what he told me. [13:05] The interviews featured Frost grilling Nixon on his life, presidency, and of course, his scandal. [13:11] While Frost was commended for his work, Nixon didn't come off as well. [13:15] You are reading there, out of context, out of order, because I have read this and I know it really better than you do. [13:23] Just listen to the legendary line where he defended his questionable actions. [13:27] Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal. [13:30] Nixon may have denied the allegations against him until his death, but these interviews are as much a part of his infamy as the Watergate scandal. [13:39] Number 5. Diane Abbott walks off for a phone call. [13:42] Well, this one's pretty rude. [13:44] Labour Party MP Diane Abbott found herself in hot water in 2012 when she set out a tweet that said, quote, [13:50] white people love playing divide and rule. [13:52] I was actually referring to the nature of 19th century European colonialism, but that's a bit much going to 140 characters. [13:59] Sky News was able to catch up with the Member of Parliament to ask her what she meant by her potentially divisive tweet. [14:04] She gave an explanation and then said she believed the tweet was being taken out of context, [14:09] before getting a phone call and walking off camera mid-interview. [14:13] Explain to us what you actually meant by the comments. [14:16] Sky News later found out that Labour Party head Ed Miliband was very likely on the other end of the call, [14:21] giving her a very stern talking to. [14:24] Number 4. Mal Meninga's 28-second career. [14:28] People from all walks of life and careers have tried their hand at public office. [14:31] Former Australian Rugby League star Mal Meninga tried a career in Canberra, for a moment anyway. [14:38] Whether they be business people, doctors, or even actors, but we've rarely seen athletes dabble in politics, [14:44] and Australian Mal Meninga gave us a glimpse as to why. [14:47] I was just a person out there making sure that I was, um... [14:52] Meninga was a legendary rugby player turned coach, when he decided to take his work in a different direction in 2001. [14:58] That year, he campaigned as an independent for the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, [15:04] announcing his candidacy in an interview on ABC, [15:07] only to get cold feet 28 seconds in and walk out of the studio. [15:11] I'm buggered. I'm sorry. [15:13] Number 3. Todd Akin's legitimate sexual assault comments. [15:17] Are there any circumstances, in your mind, in which an abortion should be legal? [15:25] Well, I think, uh, sometimes people talk about life of the mother as a situation, Charles. [15:30] Missouri Congressman Todd Akin proved he fell asleep in biology when he gave this interview during his campaign for U.S. Senate in 2012. [15:37] When asked about his views on abortion, he gave an answer that defied all medical logic, [15:42] saying the bodies of female sexual assault victims had the power to shut out an unwanted pregnancy. [15:48] The female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. [15:51] He also made more than a few people angry by trying to classify some sexual assault as legitimate. [15:57] Understandably, Akin was blasted by the public and both American political parties for his comments, [16:02] and it's believed that they were the reason he lost the election. [16:05] Akin eventually apologized for the remark, but it still had a lasting effect on his career. [16:10] Number 2. Sarah Palin with Katie Couric [16:13] In 2008, Republican nominee for U.S. President John McCain shocked everyone [16:18] by choosing unknown Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. [16:21] I'll let Governor Palin speak for herself. [16:24] The American people were eager to learn more about her, [16:27] and they got their wish in a series of interviews with CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric. [16:32] But instead of showing everyone why she should be the second most powerful person in America, [16:36] Palin utterly embarrassed herself in the interviews by coming off as unprepared and unknowledgeable. [16:41] Oh, well, some decisions that have been made poorly should not be rewarded, of course. [16:48] Some of the highlights of the infamous interviews included Palin talking about her home state's [16:52] relationship to Russia, and of course, her taste in newspapers. [16:56] Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years. [17:02] While Couric was showered with praise for her journalism efforts, [17:05] the McCain-Palin campaign never recovered. [17:09] Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about [17:13] our latest videos. [17:14] You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them. [17:18] If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications. [17:24] Number 1. Christopher Young's Singing Talents [17:27] Local news is great for shining a spotlight on politicians that wouldn't get exposure anywhere else. [17:32] Why did you get into politics in the first place? [17:35] Well, I get into politics to bring attention to the issues that matter to the people of the state of Rhode Island. [17:40] In the build-up to the 2010 Providence mayoral election, [17:43] Rhode Island station WPRI interviewed candidates to give viewers a better idea of who was running for office. [17:50] One of these candidates happened to be Democrat Christopher Young. [17:53] While the interview begins with some substantive discussion, [17:56] Young quickly transitions to something not related to politics, [17:59] namely his talent for writing songs. [18:02] To the rich man who stands in his house, [18:05] high upon the hill. [18:08] Young then pulls out a tiny speaker and sings one of his compositions, [18:12] making a minute and a half feel like eternity. [18:15] Yeah, maybe don't take up a music career. [18:17] And are you lost? [18:22] I really appreciate you coming in and serenading me this morning. [18:28] Which of these political interview fails do you think was the most embarrassing? [18:32] Let us know in the comments. [18:34] If you were writing it today, would you include the dog story? [18:37] I'm proud of this book. [18:38] Did you enjoy this video? [18:40] Check out these other clips from WatchMojo. [18:42] And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.