Omarosa cuts off 'Today' appearance, tells Savannah Guthrie to 'calm down' during bizarre interview
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Savannah Guthrie wanted to continue speaking with Omarosa Manigault-Newman but the former “Apprentice” star ended the interview.
Omarosa Manigault-Newman appeared irritable and fumed at Savannah Guthrie before abruptly cutting off an appearance on NBC’s “Today” show on Monday morning, claiming she had another interview to get to minutes after proclaiming, “I’ve got all the time you need.”
Manigault-Newman was on the morning show to share a recording of a conversation she says she had with President Trump the day after she was fired by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. Guthrie began the interview by playing the recording and plugging Manigault-Newman’s new book, “Unhinged,” but things quickly turned awkward.
Guthrie asked the former “Apprentice” star if Trump was lying in a tape that was played seconds earlier, but Manigault-Newman wanted to talk about a different topic and started asking rhetorical questions about why Kelly allegedly mistreated her. She also focused on Trump saying “they” run a big operation at the White House.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Guthrie tried to take charge of the chat, but Manigault-Newman barked back, “I’ll get to the second part.”
Guthrie then attempted to ask a follow-up question, but Manigault-Newman shot it down.
“Wait, Savannah. Who is the ‘they’ in the tape? You can’t ask the question and then ask another question without my answer,” Manigault-Newman said. “You asked me, ‘Do you think he knows?’”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Guthrie responded, “You said you’re not sure.”
Manigault-Newman went off on another tangent about Kelly, and Guthrie attempted to regain control of the interview, asking a series of questions regarding whether or not Trump “lies often” and, if so, when his former ally realized.
“Savannah, slow down,” Manigault-Newman said. “I’m gonna [answer] your question, don’t worry, I’m here. I’ve got all the time you need. You don’t have to ask 10 questions in one second. It’s OK.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Savannah, slow down... . I’ve got all the time you need. You don’t have to ask 10 questions in one second. It’s OK.”
Over the weekend, Manigault-Newman released a different recording—of Kelly notifying her of her firing in the Situation Room. Manigault-Newman said Sunday that Kelly was “threatening” her in the White House.
Guthrie asked Manigault-Newman how she was able to secretly record Kelly, but she declined to answer. Instead Manigault-Newman said she would leave that to people’s imagination.
Guthrie responded, “Why be coy?”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“I’m not being coy. I’m being very clear here,” Manigault-Newman said, still not answering the question. Manigault-Newman was in the middle of another rant that had nothing to do with Guthrie’s question, when then the “Today” co-host attempted to intervene.
“Calm down,” Manigault-Newman said, continuing her soliloquy.
Manigault-Newman eventually started answering Guthrie’s question by suggesting that viewers should read her book before Guthrie pressed her on Trump’s alleged use of a racial slur.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Manigault-Newman fired back, “I answered that question, Savannah, so what’s the next question?”
Guthrie then played a clip from a previous interview in which Manigault-Newman proclaimed Trump is not racist, seemingly contradicting her current talking points. Manigault-Newman chalked the discrepancy up to “being cautious” because she was scared of alleged threats made by Kelly before bizarrely cutting off the segment.
“You know that we have an interview right after this. I know you want to go with more time… you see the time,” Manigault-Newman said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Guthrie asked what time Manigault-Newman needs to go.
“You know that it’s a seven-minute interview. Now we’re at 10,” Manigault-Newman said.
The “Today” co-host said she actually didn’t know the time but said Manigault-Newman could leave if she has to.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“The book comes out tomorrow, all of this is in the book,” Manigault-Newman said.
Guthrie said she had a stack of additional questions if Manigault-Newman could stick around.
“I’m not afraid but I do… I have an interview right after this with someone else,” Manigault-Newman said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox News Brooke Singman contributed to this report.