Retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson says CNN and other liberal media outlets are out to badger him during interviews so that voters won't consider him a serious presidential candidate.
"They don't want people to take me seriously. They're very afraid of my message getting out there because it flies directly in the face of the secular progressive movement," Carson said Monday on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on
Newsmax TV.
"I am a huge threat to them and therefore if they can find a kink in the armor and they can concentrate on that, they can get you off of the things that are so important to our nation."
Story continues below video.
Watch Newsmax TV on DirecTV Ch. 349, DISH Ch. 223 and Verizon FiOS Ch. 115. Get Newsmax TV on your cable system — Click Here Now
On Sunday, Carson got into a testy exchange with CNN's Jim Acosta on the network's "State of the Nation," program as he spoke about the use of military drone strikes along the U.S.-Mexico border to destroy empty caves used by drug smugglers and those bringing in illegal immigrants.
Criticized by some as condoning strikes on people, Carson said he believed he was clear that the drones would only be used on caves — not people.
He called CNN's coverage of his remarks "certainly problematic," but said the "liberal media in general" was to blame for twisting his words.
"When I made my initial comments about drones and all the media was there, I said some of you, some of the left wing of you, will take these comments and try to make people think that I want to kill people with drone strikes. I do not want to do that. But you will say that anyway, and they went out and did it," Carson said.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Friday found nearly 32 percent of Republicans surveyed online backing Trump, followed by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, with 16 percent and Carson with 8 percent.
Carson, author of the bestselling book —
"A More Perfect Union: What We the People Can Do to Reclaim Our Constitutional Liberties," written with Candy Carson and published by Sentinel — said he is gratified that voters are responding to his conservative agenda.
"It is rather amazing how quickly the American people are waking up and resonating with the message," he told Steve Malzberg.
"Because, you know, I'm trying to get people to realize that this country was made with people, of, for, and by the people — with the government there simply to facilitate life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Not to rule and dominate our lives."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.