This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/16/donald-trump-uss-iowa-los-angeles

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Donald Trump fires up supporters in presidential show aboard USS Iowa Donald Trump fires up supporters in presidential show aboard USS Iowa
(about 1 hour later)
The retired battleship the USS Iowa became a stage to make Donald Trump look presidential on Tuesday night, as the Republican presidential frontrunner sought to appear a plausible commander-in-chief.The retired battleship the USS Iowa became a stage to make Donald Trump look presidential on Tuesday night, as the Republican presidential frontrunner sought to appear a plausible commander-in-chief.
Related: Republican debate: top-tier candidates seek to reclaim momentum from TrumpRelated: Republican debate: top-tier candidates seek to reclaim momentum from Trump
Behind the business mogul was a battery of 16-inch cannons that helped win the second world war, in front of him a crowd of cheering, adoring veterans, and to the west a setting sun casting the scene in a golden glow.Behind the business mogul was a battery of 16-inch cannons that helped win the second world war, in front of him a crowd of cheering, adoring veterans, and to the west a setting sun casting the scene in a golden glow.
“We’re gonna make our military so big and so strong and so great,” Trump said. “It will be so powerful that I don’t think we’re ever going to have to use it. Nobody’s going to mess with us.”“We’re gonna make our military so big and so strong and so great,” Trump said. “It will be so powerful that I don’t think we’re ever going to have to use it. Nobody’s going to mess with us.”
The crowd gathered on the deck of the ship, which saw action in the Atlantic and Pacific, and hosted Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush, chanted in rapture: “Trump! Trump! Trump!”The crowd gathered on the deck of the ship, which saw action in the Atlantic and Pacific, and hosted Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush, chanted in rapture: “Trump! Trump! Trump!”
History, hardware and patriotism: this was a shift in optics for an insurgent candidate keen to project the notion that, yes, he really is White House material.History, hardware and patriotism: this was a shift in optics for an insurgent candidate keen to project the notion that, yes, he really is White House material.
The speech in the port of LA had been billed as an important national security address in advance of Wednesday night’s Republican debate on CNN, where the tycoon-turned-politician will try to cement his lead over rival candidates.The speech in the port of LA had been billed as an important national security address in advance of Wednesday night’s Republican debate on CNN, where the tycoon-turned-politician will try to cement his lead over rival candidates.
Instead, Trump gave an unusually short speech, just 13 minutes, in which he unveiled no national security policies, outlined no strategies and elaborated no principles beyond a promise to “make America great again”.Instead, Trump gave an unusually short speech, just 13 minutes, in which he unveiled no national security policies, outlined no strategies and elaborated no principles beyond a promise to “make America great again”.
If thoughts on Hezbollah and Hamas, al-Qaida and Islamic State or any other players in the Middle East occupied his mind they remained there, unarticulated, beneath his red baseball cap.If thoughts on Hezbollah and Hamas, al-Qaida and Islamic State or any other players in the Middle East occupied his mind they remained there, unarticulated, beneath his red baseball cap.
It did not matter. It was an irresistible clip for TV news. And supporters felt so energised they greeted the brief, standard stump speech with rapture – further evidence that their man was going all the way.It did not matter. It was an irresistible clip for TV news. And supporters felt so energised they greeted the brief, standard stump speech with rapture – further evidence that their man was going all the way.
“It was fantastic. He speaks from his heart and he knows what we need,” said Christine Eskola, a retired doctor, jigging with excitement.“It was fantastic. He speaks from his heart and he knows what we need,” said Christine Eskola, a retired doctor, jigging with excitement.
Her husband Stephen Eskola, 73, also a doctor, quoted Lewis Carroll’s line about skimmed milk masquerading as cream – a reference to Trump’s GOP rivals. “Well, he’s the cream.”Her husband Stephen Eskola, 73, also a doctor, quoted Lewis Carroll’s line about skimmed milk masquerading as cream – a reference to Trump’s GOP rivals. “Well, he’s the cream.”
A New York Times/CBS poll on Tuesday found that 39% of Republican primary and caucus voters now viewed the former reality TV star as the party’s best shot at winning the presidency, compared with 26% in a CBS survey in August.A New York Times/CBS poll on Tuesday found that 39% of Republican primary and caucus voters now viewed the former reality TV star as the party’s best shot at winning the presidency, compared with 26% in a CBS survey in August.
An endorsement from Veterans for a Strong America, which hosted the USS Iowa event, underlined Trump’s transition. The supposedly self-destructive clown who in July mocked Senator John McCain’s war record – something pundits said would sabotage him in the eyes of a key constituency – now basked in the VSA leadership’s approbation.An endorsement from Veterans for a Strong America, which hosted the USS Iowa event, underlined Trump’s transition. The supposedly self-destructive clown who in July mocked Senator John McCain’s war record – something pundits said would sabotage him in the eyes of a key constituency – now basked in the VSA leadership’s approbation.
“We are going to make our country so great. We are going to make it strong. We are going to make it powerful. We are going to take care of our veterans,” he vowed on Tuesday night.“We are going to make our country so great. We are going to make it strong. We are going to make it powerful. We are going to take care of our veterans,” he vowed on Tuesday night.
Trump bashed some favourite targets – Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, immigrants. “We have many problems in our country. One of them is immigration. There’s tremendous crime. There’s tremendous drugs pouring across the border ... going to Chicago, going to New York, going to LA. We get the drugs, they get the money. The drug cartels are going wild; they cannot believe how stupid our country is.”Trump bashed some favourite targets – Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, immigrants. “We have many problems in our country. One of them is immigration. There’s tremendous crime. There’s tremendous drugs pouring across the border ... going to Chicago, going to New York, going to LA. We get the drugs, they get the money. The drug cartels are going wild; they cannot believe how stupid our country is.”
He continued: “People just pour into the country. [Americans are] disgusted when a woman who’s nine months pregnant walks into the country and has a baby and you have to take care of that baby for the next 85 years.”He continued: “People just pour into the country. [Americans are] disgusted when a woman who’s nine months pregnant walks into the country and has a baby and you have to take care of that baby for the next 85 years.”
Perhaps to save powder for Wednesday’s debate, he went easy on GOP rivals, did not even name any, but appeared to refer to neurosurgeon Ben Carson, rising fast in the polls, when he lamented candidates who were nice but not up to the rough and tumble of international affairs. “They’re never going to do anything with these countries. It’s an instinct – they don’t have it. It’s just going to be more of the same.”Perhaps to save powder for Wednesday’s debate, he went easy on GOP rivals, did not even name any, but appeared to refer to neurosurgeon Ben Carson, rising fast in the polls, when he lamented candidates who were nice but not up to the rough and tumble of international affairs. “They’re never going to do anything with these countries. It’s an instinct – they don’t have it. It’s just going to be more of the same.”
'#Trump is the disrupter this country needs. This idea everything's OK - it's not.' Chris Peer, ex navy, teacher. pic.twitter.com/PFIcIiomOU'#Trump is the disrupter this country needs. This idea everything's OK - it's not.' Chris Peer, ex navy, teacher. pic.twitter.com/PFIcIiomOU
When George W Bush strutted across an aircraft carrier in 2003 with a “mission accomplished” banner the enduring memory was hubris. Cher, in contrast, came to the port of LA and successfully used the USS Missouri as a set for the video of her 1989 hit If I Could Turn Back Time.When George W Bush strutted across an aircraft carrier in 2003 with a “mission accomplished” banner the enduring memory was hubris. Cher, in contrast, came to the port of LA and successfully used the USS Missouri as a set for the video of her 1989 hit If I Could Turn Back Time.
Time will tell if Trump pulled off the same trick, but from the crowd’s response it seemed he did burnish his brand.Time will tell if Trump pulled off the same trick, but from the crowd’s response it seemed he did burnish his brand.
“He’s authentic. He’s the disrupter that this country needs. The idea that everything’s OK – it’s not, it’s sliding backwards,” said Chris Peer, 43, a navy veteran and schoolteacher. “Trump will be great at anything he puts his mind to.”“He’s authentic. He’s the disrupter that this country needs. The idea that everything’s OK – it’s not, it’s sliding backwards,” said Chris Peer, 43, a navy veteran and schoolteacher. “Trump will be great at anything he puts his mind to.”
Leah Jacot, 47, who worked in financial services, lauded the candidate’s views on immigration and the military. “He’ll inspire people to want to make this country great again. He’s a citizen. He’s not from a political background, he’s more what the founding fathers intended.”Leah Jacot, 47, who worked in financial services, lauded the candidate’s views on immigration and the military. “He’ll inspire people to want to make this country great again. He’s a citizen. He’s not from a political background, he’s more what the founding fathers intended.”
Before the speech Robert Brower, 72, a decorated Vietnam veteran, was undecided if Trump’s candidacy was “historical or hysterical”. Afterwards Brower called it a good speech, apparently satisfied.Before the speech Robert Brower, 72, a decorated Vietnam veteran, was undecided if Trump’s candidacy was “historical or hysterical”. Afterwards Brower called it a good speech, apparently satisfied.
A woman who identified herself solely as Debbie, 60, said Trump was willing to sacrifice his own income for the American people’s income. She has struggled to find work since being laid off two years ago by AT&T and is indignant at Latinos’ rise. “A landscaper charged me $80 an hour and barely spoke English. I’d like Americans to earn $80 an hour.”A woman who identified herself solely as Debbie, 60, said Trump was willing to sacrifice his own income for the American people’s income. She has struggled to find work since being laid off two years ago by AT&T and is indignant at Latinos’ rise. “A landscaper charged me $80 an hour and barely spoke English. I’d like Americans to earn $80 an hour.”
'I like that #Trump's a citizen, not from a political background, like our founding fathers intended.' Leah Jacot. pic.twitter.com/y9bfxIGjJK'I like that #Trump's a citizen, not from a political background, like our founding fathers intended.' Leah Jacot. pic.twitter.com/y9bfxIGjJK
Several dozen mostly youthful protesters with “dump Trump” and other placards lined the quay chanting that Trump was a racist, the accusation wafting into the rare silent lulls in his speech.Several dozen mostly youthful protesters with “dump Trump” and other placards lined the quay chanting that Trump was a racist, the accusation wafting into the rare silent lulls in his speech.
“With his hate speech and misogyny it’s inappropriate that he’s on the Iowa. It should be neutral ground. He’s using it manipulate feelings,” said Kelly Whaling, 24, a student of counselling psychology. She called him a draft dodger who mocked real veterans. She doubted her profession could cure him. “He might be beyond help.” “With his hate speech and misogyny it’s inappropriate that he’s on the Iowa. It should be neutral ground. He’s using it to manipulate feelings,” said Kelly Whaling, 24, a counselling psychology student. She called him a draft dodger who mocked real veterans. She doubted her profession could cure him. “He might be beyond help.”
But as Trump wrapped his speech by a glinting Pacific Ocean, invoking a future, stronger America, and plunged into the crowd to sign autographs, those in the scrum felt excited, not manipulated. “This is awesome. Once in a lifetime,” grinned a teenager.But as Trump wrapped his speech by a glinting Pacific Ocean, invoking a future, stronger America, and plunged into the crowd to sign autographs, those in the scrum felt excited, not manipulated. “This is awesome. Once in a lifetime,” grinned a teenager.