(CNN) – Business mogul Donald Trump told CNN Wednesday House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should have sought to impeach President Bush when she had the chance.
In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Trump said the president and his administration deliberately lied about the Iraq war, and congressional Democrats missed an opportunity to impeach him when the party took control of Congress in 2006.
Watch the full interview on The Situation Room at 4 and 6 p.m. ET.
"I was surprised that she didn't do more in terms of Bush and going after Bush," Trump said. "It was almost - it just seemed like she was going to really look to impeach Bush and get him out of office, which personally I think would have been a wonderful thing."
Pressed why he feels Bush deserved the punishment faced by only two other commanders-in-chief, Trump said the president misled the country in the run-up to the Iraq war, and that his actions were considerably more objectionable than those which led to the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton.
"He lied. He got us into the war with lies," Trump said. And I mean - look at the trouble Bill Clinton got into with something that was totally unimportant. And they tried to impeach him, which was nonsense. And yet Bush got us into this horrible war with lies, by lying, by saying they had weapons of mass destruction, by saying all sorts of things that turned out not to be true."
In the wide-ranging interview set to air on CNN's The Situation Room at 4 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Trump also praised John McCain and said the Arizona senator still has a chance to win the White House despite recent polls showing he is substantially trailing Barack Obama.
Watch: I'd hire McCain, says Trump
"He's a very smart guy, he's a tough guy," he said. "I think he'd be a great president. But, he has to be John McCain and he could still probably pull it out. But, it's going to be tough."
Trump also advised the Republican presidential nominee to stay positive at Wednesday's final presidential debate and communicate clear plans to fix the nation's financial crisis.
"He has to come up with plans and not political plans, real plans. And they have to be very, very economy-based," Trump said. " I think the economy seems to be weighing down everything."
Trump praised Republican VP Sarah Palin, whom he first met Tuesday night at a New York fundraiser, and said he would trust her to run the economy.
"I can only go by the people of Alaska," she said. "She's got the highest rating in the whole Unites States, as being the most popular governor."
From CNN Politics
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Trump may have lots of money but he is really short on brains.Palin is a true Clueless wack job,and a side-kick.
Have Dick Cheny for VP....uh not.
Why not support McCain? Donald Trump knows a thing or two about cheating on his wife.
All I have to say is Trump.....YOU'RE FIRED!!!!
Palin is an idiot and is a disgrace to all women. We can not afford to have this woman as second in command to this old man.
If McCain wins, we have 4 more years of BUSH.
Vote Obama 08
Duh, most of the USA wanted shrub impeached along with shooter.
That why the Dems supposedly took power (repubs words, not mine)
But Pelosi took it of the table- – Wonder what they got on her? In my humble opinion the whole government is corrupt. Somtbody has a hand in every pocket.
I wish people would lay off of the 'impeach Bush' rhetoric and focus on the path forward – turning the White House blue again! By the time any kind of impeachment process were to go through, it's already January 2009 and Bush is just a bad memory. At this point impeachment is a symbolic thing and most people know what a horrible president he's been.
Ha! Trump should have marched straight into the Oval Office, looked Bush straight in the eye, and said "You're Fired!"
he seems to be forgetting that McCain was beating that war drum harder than bush or chenney
Trump you and the rest of the world. He is the worst president that the United States has ever had. When he leaves office all of his atrocities will come to light. Him and his running buddy with the bad heart.
"he would trust her to run the economy"
Ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
She must have charmed the sense out of him.
impeached? how about arrested!!!!!
Frankly, I could care less what Trump wants or thinks....he is just trying to get publicity for himself.
She's only popular now, but when she gets back to Alaska she will probably be impeached for the ethics violations she is now guilty of when she gets back!
He kinda looks like Joe Biden with a bad toupee.
No one said anything when the market was good. So why say something now. If the was was wrong why didn't he stand up like Barack; everybody was looking to get paid that why.
I can not believe "The Donald" saying he would trust Sarah with the economy.
With that statement, he lost alot of respect! He must think he has a shot at dating her!! LOL
" The Donald" thinks he still has it with the ladies b/c i am sure if you did a poll with his peers they would say different.
Paris Hilton is also popular, but that doesn't mean she can run an office!
First of all, if Bush should be impeached for getting us into the Iraq war with lies, then McCain should fall right with him as the head cheerleader for that war. And as for Palin running the economy, she left her town of Wasilla some millions of dollars in debt and, most recently, was convicted of ethics violations by a bipartisan (6 Repubs and 4 Dems) legislative committee. Which candidate is he supporting? Trump, you're fired!
Honestly, i believe Donald Tump cannot accept an African American President- that's why he is offering his lame excuses to support Sen. McCain over Sen.Obama.
I can agree with The Donald on one thing: Bush should have been impeached and removed from office.
I cannot agree with him on Sarah Palin though. Here's a woman who HAS been found guilty of Ethics violations and abuse of power. I don't believe this country can survive another administration which thinks it can claim "Executive Privilege" while abusing the powers of office.
MAYBE TRUMP WILL HIRE HER AFTER THE ELECTION IS OVER!
Why not impeach Bush? Two words:
President Cheney.
. So the Dems' only alternative was to push legislation they wanted and stonewall Bush whenever they could (which they've done, pretty much).
****************************************************************************
You're right about the stonewalling. Just look at the disaster Barney Frank and his group did with Freddie and Fanny. Now that's what you call Democratic legislation.
OMG he trusts Sarah to run the economy–that is hilarious? now i know we're all in for a world of hurt.
He is strickly backing McCain for his bottom line.
taking from a guy with a gazillion houses.
-Obama/Biden 08-