Outgoing Virginia Governor Says He'd Deck Trump If Provoked
Terry McAuliffe
Outgoing Democratic Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe  told a national television audience  he 'd knock President Donald Trump to the floor if the president ever tried to intimidate him.
During an interview Thursday on MSNBC's "Hardball " Chris Matthews asked  McAuliffe  how  he  would respond if Trump tried to intimidate him during a debate by hovering over him  as he did during the 2016 presidential election with Hillary Clinton  a close friend of  McAuliffe 's.
"You'd have to pick  him  up off the floor "  McAuliffe  said.
When Matthews laughed and asked if he meant he would "deck"  Trump  McAuliffe  answered with a straight face.
"But if  he  ever came over and leaned on  me  and got in my space  that would be the last time Donald Trump ever did that. I promise you that " he added.
 McAuliffe   who was a top Democratic fundraiser before being elected governor in 2013  is set to leave office Saturday. He has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate.
 McAuliffe  has been a vocal critic of Trump  particularly after Trump said "both sides" shared blame after white nationalists and counterprotestors clashed during a deadly rally in Charlottesville in August.
During the "Hardball" interview   McAuliffe  also called Trump "an embarrassment to our country."
[TGT]told a national television audience  [TGT] 'd knock President Donald Trump to the floor if the president ever tried to intimidate him.
During an interview Thursday on MSNBC's "Hardball " Chris Matthews asked  [TGT]how  [TGT]  would respond if Trump tried to intimidate him during a debate by hovering over him  as he did during the 2016 presidential election with Hillary Clinton  a close friend of  [TGT]s.
"You'd have to pick  him  up off the floor [TGT]said.
When Matthews laughed and asked if he meant he would "deck"  Trump  [TGT]answered with a straight face.
"But if  [TGT]  ever came over and leaned on  me  and got in my space  that would be the last time Donald Trump ever did that. I promise you that " he added.
 McAuliffe   who was a top Democratic fundraiser before being elected governor in 2013  is set to leave office Saturday. He has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate.
 [TGT]has been a vocal critic of Trump  particularly after Trump said "both sides" shared blame after white nationalists and counterprotestors clashed during a deadly rally in Charlottesville in August.
During the "Hardball" interview   [TGT]also called Trump "an embarrassment to our country."