Larry Hogan talks about Trump assassination attempt, Republican National Convention

WASHINGTON — The first day of the Republican National Convention kicked off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Monday while back in D.C., former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan sat down with WUSA9's Adam Longo to talk about the convention, Project 2025, the assassination attempt on the former president, and his own race for a seat in the U.S. Senate. 

ADAM LONGO: "I wanted to just start right off with the attempted assassination of the former president and wanted to get your thoughts on how you feel that's going to change the campaign for both candidates."

LARRY HOGAN: "Well, first of all, I mean, it was a, it was an incredible tragedy and we're, we're just all thankful that, uh, the way that the president is ok. Uh, the former president is ok. It was just, it was inches away from being an assassination of a former president. Which, you know, we've reached a terrible point in this country when with this, these are the kinds of things that are happening. I can't really speculate how it's gonna affect politically. What I think it's- what's is important to look at, is it gonna give us an opportunity to be an inflection point to turn away from the kind of divisive rhetoric and the angry uh toxic politics that have kind of brought us to this moment."

ADAM LONGO: "That's what President Biden called for last night with his address."

LARRY HOGAN: "I think it was a great step in the right direction. Also, President Trump is apparently saying he's changing his speech to talk about uniting America. So the fact that we have both the, the Democratic and Republican nominee and the two, the president and former president, both say that they're going to change, I think is a, is a step in the right direction. And I hope that that they and the other folks in, in both parties, will actually take that to heart and, and lower the temperature and get us because I really think we're, we're a tinder box right now. I think, uh, you know, we've got to really make sure that we do the right things at this moment in time."

ADAM LONGO: "Let's talk about you. You're a lifelong Republican. You will not be at the Republican National Convention. Why?"

LARRY HOGAN: "Well, may I never really intended to go? There are no undecided Maryland voters out there in Milwaukee. I'm, I've been, you know, I'm busy all over the state. We've got a big veterans event tomorrow and we've got things this week. We're rolling out a veterans platform and there's nothing really for me to do out there in Milwaukee. But, I'm gonna continue to focus on the state of Maryland."

ADAM LONGO: "Just in the past few hours, former President Trump has selected Ohio Senator JD Vance to be his running mate. If Trump were elected and, God forbid, something were to happen to him within the first 180 days. Do you think JD Vance is someone who would be ready to lead on day one?"

LARRY HOGAN: "You know, I don't know JD Vance, I don't think we've ever had the chance to meet. You know, I know that he and I don't agree on a lot of issues. But, you know, look, I respect him for his service to the country and the military and, you know, he seems to be a smart guy. His book was pretty good. You know, I chaired the Appalachian Regional Commission and he had the book, The Hillbilly Elegy that was talking about growing up and in that kind of an environment. But I don't, you know, we disagree on policy and I don't want to speculate and the news is news to me just like it is to everybody else. And I'm hoping that he also, you know, will make sure he tones down the rhetoric and that he has some things to say that are gonna be helping us to unite the country." 

ADAM LONGO: But he did come out within the first few hours after the shooting and put blame on President Biden. 

LARRY HOGAN: "I thought that was a mistake. And that's why I said, I sure hope that he takes, you know, what President Biden and President Trump are now saying to heart. I think everybody, on both sides, needs to, you know, stop using inflammatory rhetoric like that." 

ADAM LONGO: "Let's talk about policy. The Republican National Convention is obviously not only a time to celebrate the nominee, it's also a time to mold the Republican platform. Can you talk about where your views diverge from those of the Republican platform? I know that abortion is one of them because that's a repeated talking point of this campaign. But where else policy-wise? Are you different?"

LARRY HOGAN: "Well, quite frankly, I, I haven't looked at the Republican platform. I'm not sure anyone else has either. I was a delegate to six conventions and really, I'm not sure I read the entire platform. This one seems to be pretty light on policy. I don't think it really is gonna matter much. I don't necessarily agree with, you know, some of the leaders of my party on a lot of issues, but I'm somebody that's always been. Will I have my own platform? My platform is gonna be to represent all the people of Maryland and do whatever I think is right. And I think I've shown over eight years, a willingness and the ability and the courage to stand up to my own party and my own, you know, the president whether it's President Trump or President Biden or the Democrats or the Republicans, I'm gonna do whatever I think is right."

ADAM LONGO: "To that point, I need your thoughts on this and we're gonna have a more wide ranging piece coming up at six o'clock with our investigative reporter, Eric Flack, the Conservative Heritage Foundation. They've published this document Project 2025. It's framed as a road map for President Trump's second term. I'm sure you've seen it. It's causing concern among Democrats in Maryland whose support you will need to get elected. What are your thoughts on that?"

LARRY HOGAN: "Well, I've, I've said, I don't, you know, I haven't read the 900 pages of this, you know, seemingly kind of crazy document that they've thrown together. But I've seen enough that I totally disagree with that. I say that I don't support this. I think it's a terrible idea. I mean, I'm sure buried in there, there may be a few ideas that I can agree with. I don't know. But there are an awful lot of things that I think are bad. I'm, obviously, I'm gonna stand up and I mean, even Trump, I don't know that I, I don't know the details of it, but he's even disavowed the document. So, it's certainly not something I would support. I will stand up and try to do whatever I can to stop some of that."

ADAM LONGO: "The last thing I wanna ask you, governor is that your opponent, Angela Alsobrooks is beginning to frame this campaign as the battle for the 51st senator, saying that this isn't only about Angela or Larry, this is about a majority Republican Senate or a majority Democrat Senate. You told me when we spoke in April, you didn't think that one of the bluest states in the country was going to decide the Senate. But it might, so how can you convince Democrats and Independents in Maryland that a Senate Republican majority might be in their best interest?"

LARRY HOGAN: "Well, I'm not sure about what's gonna happen with the majority or not, but I know that I'm going to Washington, not for one party, but the only reason I've decided to run because I'm so fed up with the, the device of politics in Washington. As I just said, I'm willing to stand up to both parties. And I think what we desperately need in Washington are leaders who are willing to do that. My whole focus of my career has been on bringing people together, on trying to find a middle ground where we can all stand together on compromise. And, if there's never been a time when we've needed that more in Washington and, with all due respect to my opponent who, you know, I like her and respect her. She's going to be a rubber stamp for the partisan agenda. I've proven that I'm not that kind of a person and I think having me down there, I believe I can be a uniter and somebody that can reach across the aisle and get things done. I'm the exact same guy they voted for twice, and the exact same guy that was governor for eight years."