Sadly I have a brother who is the same way.
Has a very high-paying finance job and could by and sell the rest of us. Since the election he makes a very big show of hating Trump so as to stay in the good graces of the people in his workplace and social circles who think they’re all smarter and more erudite than the rest of us.
Another brother is a NeverTrumper because Trump is “not really a conservative” (i.e. his policies don’t conform to policy screeds from National Review and The Heritage Foundation in the 90’s)
I felt uneasy about Trump at first because he’s a New Yorker, period, but I’d give him a B+ so far. Maybe you should point that out to your conservative friend.
Trump *is* “not really a conservative.”
...but for the most part, he’s close enough given alternatives - especially the alternative nov 2016.
From my point of view that gets some understanding when he veers, and some skepticism (though he’s earned some leeway from immediate reactions there as well).