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.”
“The Stupid Party is making quite a bed for themselves.”
I don’t think they are stupid, just corrupt and bought off. You remember 4 years ago; the Republicans savaged each other, and when it came down to just Romney - it was take the high road and be nice to Obama.
Thanks.. glad to see his disapproval rating is “down” to 2-1.
I don’t believe Hillary will be the Democrat nominee if she has any challenger of any credibility whatsoever. As Rush has mentioned, just because the elites believe one thing, doesn’t mean the voters believe the same thing.
Can you discern any difference between Hillary, McConnell, Boehner, and most of the Republican caucus? The Republicans could tie Obama in knots, but they are just as loyal to him, and more so sometimes, than the democrats.
I predicted an independent run when I first heard he was running. I’m still expecting it.
And you fail to see that a RINO is no different than a democrat.
“All I know about Trump so far is his stand on immigration. That’s not enough for me to run right out and vote for him.”
It matters not if we get a 99% conservative who is squishy on immigration. As Ann Coulter says, immigration is the ONLY issue that matters if the country is to survive the way we know it. It is headed into third world oblivion, for all time, if it isn’t stopped soon.
Nice try.. but you couldn’t be more wrong.
Listen to that call and say that again, with a straight face. I got that call. Cochran promising to work WITH Obama.
And I’m still wondering who John McCain voted for in ‘08:
Forget 3rd party. At this point I’d like verifiable proof of a second party.
U. S. veterans and their families, along with all citizens with at least a minimum knowledge of history and specifically a knowledge of those who have given national service to America since its founding and what it entails and has entailed in sacrifices and lives, will assuredly agree with the former—not the latter.
It's hard to love someone who has emptied his heart of love except self-love. In that aspect, he is like Obama.
“That anyone could take this man seriously as a presidential candidate stymies me.”
That was precisely my sentiments regarding Obama when he first ran. And he didn’t even bother saying the “right” things. Trump comes along, pounds the liberals and the RINOs over the head with their stupidities, and he is all if a sudden a clown.
I agree with you, but people are easily persuaded by someone they perceive as speaking for them.
Right now, that is Trump.
When the debates start, the only true conservative, Ted Cruz, will shine for all to see.
Ted is correct in keeping himself above the fray.
He can keep preaching his message and soon he will be seen as the adult in the room.
Actually very Reaganesque of him.
Remember how small and ineffective Carter seemed when he stood on the stage with Reagan?
Cruz will come off the same way
With his intellect and speaking ability he will make everyone, including Trump, seem tawdry and small.
Lowering the bar?
The Insane One has taken it so low, it now resides in a four foot ditch.
How else could they hope to get H!llary elected?
“Trump’s promises mean nothing.”
As opposed to the Republican promises made before the last November elections. Those promises are being ever so carefully kept. And they will be so ever carefully kept if a RINO wins next year. Bank on it.
you assume Cruz will have enough polled support to actually be in the top tier debate. that is not assured
BEEEEENGO!
“If Im not treated FAIRLY”
weve seen what a malignant Narcissist can do to a nation..already!
He likely gets quite the tingle...up his leg....when he intones the famous words..”youre fired”
Trump has pulled the pin on the grenade and thrown it in the door of the RNC. It has a slow fuse. Now Trump has the pin and if the RNC wants to ‘just be fair to everyone’, including Trump, they will reverse third position on Trump and beg him to put the pin back. I suspect Trump will let them stew in their own juices for a few weeks. They will look like a 6 year old with pinworms gnawing at an itchy ass. Gonna be interesting.
The GOP establishment loves to repeat this line, but it doesn't take into account the fact that a lot of 3d party voters are people who would just stay home if there weren't a 3d party candidate. Voting 3d party is the same as voting "none of the above" for many people, myself included.
And even if what you claim is true, I really can't get myself worked up about "getting Bill Clinton elected" when the alternatives were George Bush and Bob Dole, both of whom may as well have been Democrats.
Here's a thought: perhaps the RNC should field decent candidates so that conservative voters don't feel compelled to vote third party or stay home, instead of whining and scapegoating "spoilers."
Incidentally, I don't like Trump at all and probably wouldn't vote for him, but that doesn't change the utter contempt I have for the GOP establishment. If the RNC pushes Jeb Bush through as they want, they deserve whatever they get.
“Donald Trump is Hillary Clinton’s stalking horse.”
How is that anywhere logical? He is leading in the Republican primaries, loudly proclaiming policies that are anathema to Hillary Clinton. And, Trump, who supposedly has the biggest ego in the world, and is winning, willingly throws it ALL at the feet of Hillary.
If in proclaiming those POLICIES, which you have to agree are correct, he loses the primaries, then the country is lost already. The election of Hillary, or whichever RINO picks up the pieces, will be irrelevant. Immigration is the thing; if it is not stopped, we are finished. Demographics is destiny. The following twenty years will be food fight by foreigners feasting on what Americans have built. Then, it is over. Maybe the remaining Americans can comfort themselves in their destruction by reminding themselves that they were not racist.
If it's Yeb, so be it. No difference between Yeb and Hillary anyway.
Can you give me some examples of where I am wrong. Just one would make me feel better.
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