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Don Lemon Can't Stop Laughing at This Awkward Clip of Paul Manafort Answering Whether Trump Has Any Financial Ties to Russia, and We See Why
Have to laugh to keep from crying.
CNN's Don Lemon couldn't get enough of a 2016 clip of Paul Manafort struggling to defend candidate Donald Trump. On Thursday, Lemon began laughing uncontrollably while recapping the tsunami of Trump-Russia news that dominated headlines all week.
In the clip, CBS's Norah O'Donnell asked Manafort, Trump's beleaguered former campaign chair, if Trump had any "financial relationships" with Russian oligarchs.
“So to be clear," asked O'Donnell, "Mr. Trump has no financial relationships with any Russian oligarchs?”
Manafort stumbled through his answer: "That's what he said, that's what I said, that's obviously what the... what our position is."
"So awkward," Lemon chuckled as he replayed the clip.
“That was really, really awkward,” Lemon said. “I still have no idea what he said there. But doesn't that just sum up all of this up?"
Watch below. The Manafort segment appears at 6:20.
The O'Donnell-Manafort exchange started making rounds on Twitter Thursday following news that Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about a Trump Tower Moscow deal that was in the works during the 2016 campaign.
@JuddLegum @PreetBharara Whoa, the verbal stumbling and body language there is incredibly telling…— Anson Burtch (@Anson Burtch) 1543516260.0
@aburtch @JuddLegum @PreetBharara Notice he wouldn't look up and into the camera...— cracraone (@cracraone) 1543519865.0
@JuddLegum That gulp at the end https://t.co/erVLQvL2jE— Joanna (@Joanna) 1543513455.0
@stacerobles @JuddLegum It’s easier to catch with the sound off— Joanna (@Joanna) 1543519360.0
@galan_official @JuddLegum @PreetBharara The stumbling was him trying not to say yes because he knew that was a lie.— Jobe (@Jobe) 1543538510.0
Lemon wasn't the only one laughing.
@donlemon I was hoping you’d play the awkward Paul Manafort clip 3x in a row. Couldn’t stop laughing with you.— PJS (@PJS) 1543547946.0
OMFG DON LEMON CACKLING AT THE PAUL MANAFORT CLIP HAS ME ON THE FLOOR 💀💀💀💀💀— Christopher David 🧨 (@Christopher David 🧨) 1543547819.0
@JuddLegum This video has always cracked me up. Like a kid telling their parent “I did not take the candy”, but cho… https://t.co/zhELQY5NT3— AllMarsh (@AllMarsh) 1543541391.0
@JuddLegum Do you always laugh when you think of it? I know I do.— Art Radley (@Art Radley) 1543513368.0
@g00dneighbour @JuddLegum Laughing right now— rebeccaco♎ (@rebeccaco♎) 1543515994.0
@JuddLegum I crack up every time...😂😂😂— ADD (@ADD) 1543513685.0
@JuddLegum https://t.co/ze6iJQAfme— dre nee (@dre nee) 1543535553.0
The recording is especially juicy now because Manafort was busted last week for double-dealing behind Special Counsel Robert Mueller's back as plea deals were negotiated over the summer. Manafort was convicted of eight counts of tax and bank fraud in August.
He also entered two guilty pleas for conspiracy and money laundering in September. It was during this time, Mueller's office says, that Manafort lied to investigators.
Oops.
@NorahODonnell At the time I felt 100% confident this was; A) A lie B) would come back to haunt them both— Zap Rowsdower (@Zap Rowsdower) 1543527640.0
@NorahODonnell Sounded pathetic even then. Practically held up a sign that said; "I'm lying."— northierthanthou.com (@northierthanthou.com) 1543527315.0
@NorahODonnell This is a classic.— Lisa J. 🐈💜♊ (@Lisa J. 🐈💜♊) 1543527461.0
@NorahODonnell Goodness. I hadn't seen this before. Just laughed aloud.— Danielle Venton (@Danielle Venton) 1543533673.0
At least lie with some dignity, dude.
@NorahODonnell This is a classic.— Lisa J. 🐈💜♊ (@Lisa J. 🐈💜♊) 1543527461.0
@NorahODonnell It’s amazing how bad they are this. My toddler lies better.— Phillip Cleveland (@Phillip Cleveland) 1543537397.0
@NorahODonnell One of the weakest denials I have ever seen. Hard to believe Trump won (thanks Hillary) and don’t do… https://t.co/ijV7SexrzV— KC Oracle (@KC Oracle) 1543535232.0
@NorahODonnell Obviously he knows he is lying— bmz43 (@bmz43) 1543529029.0
@NorahODonnell "That's what their position is" doesn't preclude that the position is a lie. #TrumpRussia— Michael Sanchez (@Michael Sanchez) 1543526576.0
Hey Pauly ... https://t.co/aRRcQKT3aS— christophurious (@christophurious) 1543521656.0
Manafort's sentencing hearing will be scheduled on Friday.
"As more facts emerge from the Mueller investigation," Lemon said, "what will the president do?"