>>Except his “own words” don’t support single payer.
His own words support both. In the same interview in this case. Unless you can parse government-funded universal healthcare in some way that isn’t “single payer.”
Trump’s support for single payer goes back further and longer than his private sector statements.
He’s for both. Whatever you want to hear.
Key words: "Universal" and "Government-funded." We already have a "single payer" system for the elderly and the poor. It's called Medicare and Medicaid.
This is why I steadfastly maintain that Trump is NOT a conservative - he is a populist. He is brilliant at reading the mood of the public and modifying his positions to be in line with whatever the current popular position is. He is not concerned with what the Constitution says or what the conservative principle would be in any situation.
Once he thought Romney was too extreme in his position on immigration - now he is an immigration absolutist.
Once he thought wages were too high - now he thinks they are too low.
Once he was in favor of single payer - now he is in favor of something else.
Once he was in favor of a "wealth tax" - now he is not.
Once he thought Trey Gowdy would make a great AG - now he attacks him because Gowdy endorsed Rubio, and so on...
On issue after issue, Trump changes his positions to be whatever he thinks the public wants, and his supporters don't care. It never seems to occur to them that if he perceives the public mood swinging against building a wall or deporting immigrants or against any other issue they now support, then Trump will change his position again. He has no core principles - just whatever will please the audience at the time. And he will attack and try to destroy anyone that opposes him.