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.”
“...And, truth be known, most of them aren’t showing leadership, just pettiness....”
How about they just start acting like grown Men instead of whiny little bitches, and put the needs of the Country ahead of their own egos...
Sixteen years ago (hard to believe it was so long ago) you and I were online supporting our favorite possible nominee..you for Forbes, me for Quayle. GWB money overwhelmed what could've been a great presidency, Quayle/Forbes, and we'd be a whole different nation today. If Forbes had used more personally available money and Quayle had strongly defended an alternative spelling of potato, and they had teamed up to fight against the Bush big money donor machine we wouldn't be near the bottom of this slippery slope.
Is it really a good idea to bring Walker to DC at this point? We need someone who from experience knows how it works, fights back, and won't be overwhelmed. Walker didn't even defend himself when he was accused of saying in private he wouldn't "go nativist". He's young. In four (if he's VP) or twelve years he'll be seasoned, and we'll know if he should be president.
And maybe the best thing that could happen would we a President Trump bringing in Forbes to fix the economic mess and Quayle to unravel foreign affairs.
Of course he would. Not genuflecting in his presence is deemed “mistreatment” in Trump’s narcissistic mind.
But the reason he’ll go third party is because he intends to give his friend Hillary a huge assist, as splitting the anti-Hillary vote guarantees her the election. And look for the quid pro quo payoff to follow.
“Art of the deal” and all. As his supporters say, it’s “just business.”
Losing has not taught them anything. You are on a fool's errand.
The Stupid Party is making quite a bed for themselves. A Smart Party would be reacting to Trump just like the Evil Party reacts to Joe Biden.
Food for thought!!! We, Conservative Republicans fought so hard to win the Senate and keep the House, which actually happened...but we gained nothing IMHO. Both Mitch McConnell & John Boehner, along with their lockstep establishment RINOs have caved on every item to POTUS Obama!!! I still keep my Republican registration, so that I can vote in Republican primaries, but in my heart I am now considered an Independent.
Having said that....I urge Donald Trump to seriously consider running as a third party candidate, which will insure that the Republicans will lose the POTUS election, in 2016!!! The country, of course, will continue to come apart and fail, as well as being openly attacked by the enemies of the USA.....but I cannot in good stead, vote for a Republican establishment RINO and support the RNC as it now exists. IMHO, Both “weal sister” McCain & Romney “gave away” their elections to Obama!!! Obama, Clinton & the entire Democrat Party are fatal poison for the USA from A-Z!!! Instead of bad mouthing Donald Trump, the RNC & the Republican POTUS candidate group should be supporting Trump, or, constatly attacking Obama, Clinton & the Obamabot, hate America, Democrat Party.
Today, the House will vote on “Kate’s Law”, already being mocked by Nancy Pelosi and the WH as “Trump’s Law”.....and we have heard not one word from either McConnell, Boehner, the RNC, or, any of the Pubbie Candidates in rebuttal, other then Trump, Cruz, Carson, Fiorina!!! The Republican establishment/RINOs continue to work hand in hand with the “Obama thugs”!!! Sickening!!!
RE: In order for history to repeat itself, the GOPe need to coronate another Bush as their squishy RINO candidate.
Very high likelihood of that happening too.
And you will love everything Madame Hillary does, because you enabled her.
Trump reminds me of my 3 year old grandchild. “Wah, wah, wah...look at me...look at me.”
That anyone could take this man seriously as a presidential candidate stymies me.
Ted Nugent as Vice President
Department of Foreign Affairs, (change the name back.) - Ted Cruz
Department of Justice - Trey Gowdy
Department of Treasury - ?? any suggestions?
Department of War, (change the name back.) - LTC. West
Department of Interior, (includes former Agriculture, and Transportation functions) - Gov. Palin
Department of Labor and Commerce (includes former Energy legitimate functions) – Gov. Walker
Department of Health and Human Services, (includes VA functions) – Doctor Benjamin Carson
Department of Homeland Security – Gov. Martinez
Department of Education - ELIMINATE
Department of Housing and Urban Development – ELIMINATE
“BINGO!! Hello, President Hillary!”
Unfortunately, the Trumpettes are OK with that.
I remember.
And if we had voted for Mittens, we’d still have Obamacare and probably would have gotten amnesty immediately, probably his first act as President, and then say hello to permanent leftist control over the country.
“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.”
“Unfair?” As in “failure to kiss his a**, to His Holy Bloviating Brashness’ liking.
Well...you got to be a stinking lawyer to be part of the "in crowd" that controls DC....
The lawyers have a choke hold on our government and THAT"S the very thing that's killing us....
Sure...we need a stinking lawyer every now and again....but it's businessmen that makes capitalism work...and we are after all....CAPITALIST... Yes..?
MHO....
“....say that Trump is badly hurting the GOP brand.”
Now that is funny right there.
I personally believe that one single person could not hurt the “GOP brand” anymore than what it is hurting right now.
We gave the GOP the House and the Senate and what have they done? Aided and abetted the _Resident Muslim.
They have undeniable proof of lawlessness in the Obama administration. Almost every alphabet organization has broken the law and what has the GOP in the House and Senate done about it? Nothing. They hold “special committee” meetings so the chest thumpers can get in front of the camera.
You have a white hating Eric Holder who lies under oath, is caught and should have been put in jail goes free. Then who is allowed by the GOP to be replaced by an even more white hating black female.
No, the GOP brand destroyed it’s own brand
The blow here thats going to really leave a mark is the one he landed on Hillary.
Points out that she’s totally in bed with the Wall St. barons, says he’s telling the barons not to worry because Hillary doesn’t really mean what she’s saying.
it’s so clear that’s what is up here, I am astounded that all freepers can’t see that.
Exactly! You and I are on the same page.
If you saw Cruz’s interview with Hannity last night, his focus is squarely on the prize of Constitutional Conservatism and he got his shots in whenever he could on the current administration and it’s buddies in the Ruling Class.
His comments when questioned about Trump? He focused to fortify the issues Trump is raising, not getting into the infantile garbage the RNC is peddling.
It will be decided in the debates. Most everything beforehand is essentially background noise.
Character is doing the right thing when nobody is looking.
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