Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FRANSEN: TRUMP WAS FORCED TO SAY SORRY
Morgan ‘owes me apology’
THE deputy leader of Britain First has said Donald Trump was “railroaded” into offering to apologise for retweeting her videos.
Jayda Fransen, speaking in Belfast yesterday before a court appearance, accused Piers Morgan of misrepresenting her views to the President.
In an interview with the presenter, Mr Trump claimed he knew “nothing” about the far-right group before he shared three of its videos in November.
Fransen, 31, said: “In this instance he [Morgan] has completely misled the President of the United States by claiming I am something I am not.
“I have challenged Piers Morgan to sit down with me and to discuss these absolutely horrific accusations that I am a horrible, nasty racist – something I wholeheartedly refute.
“Let’s have a civilised discussion, let’s not mislead people and let’s not proclaim to represent the entire UK by saying I should be condemned.”
However, Mr Morgan – who revealed on Good Morning Britain he had told the President Britain First “are racist, fascist people” – hit back on Twitter.
He wrote: “Here’s my apology to her: ‘Sorry I wasn’t more offensive about you’.” Fransen added: “Donald Trump retweeted [the videos] because they are a matter of national and worldwide security.
“Islamic terrorism is affecting us and he has been railroaded into saying he would offer an apology if, and those were President Trump’s words, if Piers Morgan says I am a horrible, nasty racist then of course he would condemn me.
“Well that goes without saying. I would do the same if somebody told me and could provide evidence someone was a horrible, nasty racist. It is not true.”
Fransen said she would like to meet the President when he visits the UK later this year and insisted he was supported by “millions of people” here.
Claiming the President’s retweet caused a frenzy and prompted the British establishment to claim he was not welcome in the UK, she said: “The fact is this is about censorship.
“It is about the British establishment trying to censor the President of the United States and his social media presence and frankly, accusing someone of being a horrible, nasty racist with absolutely no evidence to back that up is irresponsible, immoral and I am the one that is owed an apology by Piers Morgan.
“I sincerely hope I receive it.”