Carl Bernstein talks Clinton/Trump, Panama Papers in Dutch interview

For the 100^th episode of the TV program College Tour, NTR hosted legendary reporter Carl Bernstein. During the 40 minute-interview at the Theater Carré in Amsterdam, the journalist replied to questions from Dutch university students about the American presidential campaign, the Panama Papers and the Watergate scandal - the investigation that made him and Bob Woodwar household names worldwide. Bernstein believes that, even if journalism is receiving much criticism nowadays, we live in an age full of great journalism, great investigative reporting. “Look what's going on now with the so-called Panama Papers, look what the Boston Globe did with the Spotlight case”, he stated. He feels that the problem lies in the conduct of the public. According to him, today's audience is looking too much for information matching with what they already believe. “They prefer to reinforce their religious, political and ideological believes rather than be open the truth”, he claimed. The legendary journalist also talked about the presidential campaign currently happening in the United States. Bernstein thinks that Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton – about whom he wrote a biography titled A woman in charge in 2008 – finds it hard to tell the truth: “I think the big questions about Hillary is this difficulty she has about telling the truth. Hilary Clinton has a difficult relationship with the truth”. His opinion on Republican candidate Donald Trump was even harsher. Replying to a student who asked about what he thinks about the Republican candidate and his comments about press freedom Bernstein stated: ““Most of his comments are outrageous, thoughtless. He's surely demonstrating in his campaign, the methodology of a neo-fascist”. He carried on stating that Trump is the bearer of a culture of the strong man, a risky cult of the self, able to do what he wants in spite of the restraints of the law and the Constitution. “He is dangerous because of his thoughtlessness”, he concluded. The entire interview can be watched here.