I don’t consider it strength to brutally massacre pro democracy protesters. I want you to see the complete quote by Trump from the National Review article.
“Trump was asked about Gorbachev — who was nearing the end of his time in power.
Trump said, “Russia is out of control and the leadership knows it. That’s my problem with Gorbachev. Not a firm enough hand.” His interviewer asked, “You mean firm hand as in China?”
Trump answered, “When the students poured into Tiananmen Square, the Chinese government almost blew it. Then they were vicious, they were horrible, but they put it down with strength. That shows you the power of strength. Our country is right now perceived as weak … as being spit on by the rest of the world –””
Trump was clearly saying that Gorbachev needed to take a firmer hand in the Soviet Union like China had in Crushing the pro democracy movement. Trump then said that America was weak and needed to take a lesson from China. He said this right after the Reagan Administration when we were at our strongest and the communist world was collapsing.
Trump seems to admire the brutal application of force. At this point he has expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin, the cunning and ruthlessness of Kim Jong Un, and now the the “strength” of the Chinese Communist who crushed the pro democracy movement. Oh, and btw, yesterday he called for making it easier for him to sue the press.
Why do you think Trump qualified his comment with the words ‘horrible’ and ‘vicious’?
Do they sound like words of admiration?
He was making a simple point about strength and perceived strength...I hope.
Truth be told after pondering, it’s something I’d like him asked about and raises a point about Cruz’s failings in this campaign. Why are we reading this here rather than listening to Cruz hammer Trump with a question about it during a debate?
You said...
“Trump seems to admire the brutal application of force”
I fear some, not all, but some of his supporters want the same thing done to those who oppose him