Political party
Republican (Before 1999; 2009–11; 2012–present)
Reform Party (1999–2001)
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Posted on 07/23/2015 3:57:44 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
NEW YORK — Donald Trump says the chances that he will launch a third-party White House run will “absolutely” increase if the Republican National Committee is unfair to him during the 2016 primary season.
“The RNC has not been supportive. They were always supportive when I was a contributor. I was their fair-haired boy,” the business mogul told The Hill in a 40-minute interview from his Manhattan office at Trump Tower on Wednesday. “The RNC has been, I think, very foolish.”
Pressed on whether he would run as a third-party candidate if he fails to clinch the GOP nomination, Trump said that “so many people want me to, if I don’t win.”
“I’ll have to see how I’m being treated by the Republicans,” Trump said. “Absolutely, if they’re not fair, that would be a factor.”
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus called Trump earlier this month asking him to tone down his controversial rhetoric. More recently, the RNC rebuked him for saying that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is not a war hero. Trump didn’t apologize but has since said that the 2008 Republican presidential nominee is a war hero.
Trump told The Hill that the GOP establishment in Washington dislikes him because he’s not part of the political class.
“I’m not in the gang. I’m not in the group where the group does whatever it’s supposed to do,” he said. “I want to do what’s right for the country — not what’s good for special interest groups that contribute, not what’s good for the lobbyists and the donors.”
The real estate magnate has upended the Republican presidential primary, with recent national polls showing that he is leading the 16-candidate field. Many in the party’s establishment, pointing to his inflammatory comments about Mexican immigrants and McCain, say that Trump is badly hurting the GOP brand.
Yet he is connecting with a significant chunk of GOP voters. And despite criticism from party leaders and other presidential candidates, Trump appears fueled by controversy.
His office, which has a stunning view of Central Park, is filled with family photos, golf trophies and sports paraphernalia.
At various times during the interview, Trump pointed out that he isn’t a politician. But the reality TV personality has politician-like skills, answering questions he wants to answer and driving the conversation to where he wants to take it. Trump doesn’t shy away from eye contact, and while prone to complaining about reporters, he is comfortable in his own skin.
The 69-year-old, of course, is no stranger to the media, and on Wednesday he complimented his questioners while also urging them — on more than one occasion — “to be fair.”
He insisted that his remarks about McCain and immigration have not and will not hurt him, and pointed to several recent polls to make his point.
Not surprisingly, Trump is a big fan of polls now.
At one point, he whipped out a survey that he had inside his suit pocket, and later he called on an aide to print out the latest poll numbers showing him leading former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R).
“I’m surprised that I’m this high,” he said.
Unlike former Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) four years ago, Trump is not predicting victory. He won’t utter the former Speaker’s famous “I’m going to be the nominee” statement, saying that would be “presumptuous.”
He attributes his rise to being frank with voters.
“I’m not surrounded by all sorts of pollsters and PR people,” Trump said. “I speak the truth. Our country is in big trouble, and I know how to turn it around.”
“Competence” and “leadership” are what voters are looking for, he says.
While some of his Republican rivals, such as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, must do well in Iowa, and others are looking to New Hampshire, including Bush, Trump doesn’t see his path to victory as state-specific. And he was tight-lipped on how he’s preparing for the Aug. 6 Fox News debate, which will only allow for the top 10 candidates by poll standing to appear on the stage.
“I’ve got a lot of knowledge having to do with government. For the debates, I’ll work on that,” he said. “As far as the debate is concerned, these politicians debate every night. That’s all they do is talk. I don’t do that. I do other things. I’m a job creator.”
He said he’d appoint judges to the Supreme Court with a “conservative bent,” praising Justice Samuel Alito and criticizing Chief Justice John Roberts.
“Jeb Bush was the one that pushed Roberts through his brother, and Roberts gave us ObamaCare,” Trump said. “Roberts was a terrible choice. We wouldn’t be talking about ObamaCare right now if we didn’t have Roberts.”
He spoke favorably of setting term limits in Congress without offering specifics and didn’t rule out endorsing congressional candidates in 2016. Trump did not show his hand on whether he might endorse a primary challenger to McCain, who has one such competitor in his Arizona race.
Trump said he agreed with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in opposing President Obama’s trade policy.
“You know the funniest thing about Bernie Sanders? The one thing we agree on is trade,” the billionaire said with a smile. “He knows the country is ripped off. And I know the country is being ripped off. The difference is that I can do something about it and he can’t. He’ll never be able to negotiate with China.”
Trump said that despite his tough talk about China, he’d be able to have a working relationship with its leaders. To accentuate his point, Trump brought The Hill six floors down to note that the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China rents space in his building.
“They just renewed their lease and you know why? They love Trump,” he said.
He said that Sanders is a sort of “duplicate” of liberal favorite Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who he said has pushed Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner for 2016, to the left.
“She’s had a huge impact on Clinton,” Trump said. “Hillary is going way left, and I sort of laugh because I know Hillary very well. ... The interesting part about Hillary is that her donors are all the hedge fund guys and the business guys and the real estate guys. And they’re all saying, ‘Do you think she means it?’ And I say, ‘Of course she doesn’t mean it — you know her.’ ”
Trump has long said he loves his job of striking deals and making money. But now that job is on hold as he attempts to become the 45th president.
Trump says he’s enjoying running for commander in chief, though he knows it’s early in the game.
“It’s very hard for a very successful person to run for political office — especially for president,” he said, after asking for business cards. “I get that now more than anything.”
Political party
Republican (Before 1999; 2009–11; 2012–present)
Reform Party (1999–2001)
Democratic (2001–09)
Independent (2011–12)
Of course Trump should be threatening the RNC with a third party run if they try to pull any of their typical RINO nonsense.
You are correct.
That's the way business deals are cut.
He wants Priebus to bring his dogs into line.
I’d give the election a pass before voting for Trump.
OUTSTANDING - Great to hear!
He’s just sealed Jeb’s fate, along with Rubio, Walker and most of the others in the pack.
But, in the end, if Trump is treated well, and defeated in the arena of ideas, rather than by PERSONAL ATTACKS, he will respect the will Republican Primary VOTERS, and not run Third Party. But if the party keeps this up, then it’s through - and THANKFULLY. If they REFUSE to support their base, it’s time for the party to go bye-bye.
He said McCain was war hero at leas three times at the same time, arguably in the very same sentence. No distortion or bias from the media.
Since Trump seems to scare the willies out of the eGOP, the 'rats and the MSM, I have to like him just for that. Would he make a good president? He couldn't possibly be worse than Obama.
funny, saw an article two days ago wherein Trump was quoted saying he would not go third party.
Remember this, most get flack when they are right over the target.
...and perhaps the Republican Party should have taken that into consideration BEFORE going after Trump as they did.
Oh well, TOO LATE NOW!!!
No one can “attack” Trump but he gets free reign?
And what about your comment that he “will respect the will (of) Republican Primary VOTERS?”
What if he drops in the polls (that he’s bragging about so much)? They’re already showing a drop off.
Who’s to blame then, ‘cause The Donald is NEVER wrong - he tells everyone who will listen that he’s the gold standard.
Trump running as a third party would all but guarantee a DemonRAT victory.
Ross Perot elected Bill Clinton TWICE by running 3rd party.
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Good. Will create a viable alternative is that idiot Bush III is nominated
Conservatives valuing their own thoughts more than the country elected Obama twice by not voting
Bush and Dole elected Bill Clinton twice by being sucky candidates who turned their back on the base.
Don’t blame Perot for the failures of Bush and Dole.
Well said. It’s time the R party learned a lesson. Their tactics aren’t working. The rest of the Rs need to put their big-boy britches on and start running their own campaigns. They aren’t exactly giving us anything exciting to vote for. They are like a bunch of ankle biters nipping at his heels because, in reality, they are jealous as they see their own hopes going down the drain. And, truth be known, most of them aren’t showing leadership, just pettiness.
“Trump running as a third party would all but guarantee a DemonRAT victory.”
So would Jeb running as a Republican - regardless of the outcome.
“Trump running as a third party would all but guarantee a DemonRAT victory.”
Maybe then we would see an end to all this fawning over him.
Trump is just a thinner Chris Christie - remember when we loved that guy because he yelled loudly at people we don’t like? Let’s not be fooled twice.
Other than the Mexican Government, who did Trump attack, rather than respond to?
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