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| Trump talks Nato and foreign policy at 'final five' presidential town hall – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.19am GMT | |
| 01:19 | |
| John Stoehr | |
| Donald Trump, whose candidate forum interview is currently airing, told the Washington Post’s editorial board on Monday that he would be a hawkish president who leaves a light footprint. | |
| You don’t have to be a policy wonk to know he wants two things that don’t go together. The more the media focuses on Trump’s foreign policy, the more vulnerable he is going to appear, because the bottom line – repeated references to his “hands” aside – is that he tends to sound like Barack Obama. “We’re spending trillions of dollars in the Middle East. You know where we are now? We’re further back than we were 15 years ago. We are in such bad shape. The Middle East is a disaster for us,” Trump told Wolf Blitzer. “And in the meantime our country is crumbling, we have a country, the roads are no good. “Here’s what Obama said in 2011 (bolding mine): | |
| We are a nation whose strength abroad has been anchored in opportunity for our citizens at home. Over the last decade, we have spent a trillion dollars on war, at a time of rising debt and hard economic times. Now, we must invest in America’s greatest resource – our people. We must unleash innovation that creates new jobs and industry, while living within our means. We must rebuild our infrastructure ... America, it is time to focus on nation building here at home. | |
| The Republican frontrunner is not sounding so Republican, despite his repeated indictments of the Obama presidency. | |
| 1.17am GMT | |
| 01:17 | |
| Donald Trump says 1,237-delegate requirement is "a little unfair" | |
| Scott Bixby | |
| “Let’s say you show up in Cleveland at the Republican convention, and don’t have that the magic number of 1,237 which is the number you need to be guaranteed on the first ballot if you’re going to be the Republican - let’s say you’re 20 or 100 short,” Wolf Blitzer floated. “The chairman of the Republican Party, Reince Priebus, he says that that’s not the rules, that they would have to go along with the rules. What would happen if you’re just short?” | |
| Trump complained, saying that the 1,237-delegate required to win the presidential nomination is “a little unfair, because I have been competing against -- we started with over 17 people. Then we go down to 15, and then 12, and 11 and 10. And I had many, many people that I’m competing with.” | |
| “When you talk about the majority plus one, it’s a very unfair situation because we had so many people running for office, so one would get 2 percent, one would get 4 percent, one would - and I was always in the lead,” Trump said. “I mean, just about from the beginning I’ve been leading. But it’s very unfair when I have all of these people running, it’s not like I’m running against two people or three people, Hillary is running against one person. So I think that’s very unfair.” | |
| “Mathematically, it’s unfair,” Trump said again. “It’s almost impossible to believe that I should do that, that I would be able to do it. I think I’ll be able to do it. But I will say this: If I was at 1,190, so I’m a little bit off, and I have millions of votes more than anybody else - because right now I have 2 million votes more than anybody else running for office, by a lot. It’s not even close.” | |
| “I have millions of votes more than anybody else that’s running - millions of votes ... so mathematically it’s unfair.” | |
| 1.12am GMT | |
| 01:12 | |
| Donald Trump: "I am the least racist person you’ll ever meet" | |
| Scott Bixby | |
| “Why do you think these white supremacists, these various white supremacists out there are supporting your campaign?” Wolf Blitzer asked Donald Trump. | |
| “I don’t know, because I am the least racist person you’ll ever meet, so I don’t know,” Trump said. “And I don’t know that they really are. I mean, you’re telling me that, so I don’t know...” | |
| Blitzer noted that the Anti-Defamation League, an organization working against anti-Semitism, put out a list of white supremacists and neo-Nazis who are working for and supporting Trump’s campaign. | |
| “I just don’t know. I mean, you are telling me this, but I don’t know why. I am certainly the least racist person,” Trump insisted. “I don’t want their support, I don’t want their support, I don’t need their support.” | |
| 1.09am GMT | |
| 01:09 | |
| Scott Bixby | |
| Wolf Blitzer also played a clip from Clinton’s speech during the Aipac conference today in which she implicitly compared Donald Trump’s candidacy to that of Adolf Hitler. “Encouraging violence, playing coy with white supremacists, calling for 12 million immigrants to be rounded up and deported, demanding we turn away refugees because of their religion and proposing a ban on all Muslims entering the United States - if you see bigotry, oppose it. If you see violence condemn it. If you see a bully, stand up to him.” | |
| Trump ignored the substance of Clinton’s argument. | |
| “I mean, look, we have to be vigilant,” Trump said. “Our country is under siege. We’re under attack. We’re under attack in virtually every way: Our economy is falling apart; we’re sitting on a big fat bubble; our trade deals are no good; our health care is no good; our security is no good. | |
| “Look what happens in our country! Our security is no good. People are pouring across the border. People that are convicted criminals are pouring across the border. We have to be vigilant, we have to be smart or we’re not going to have a country any longer.” | |
| 1.06am GMT | |
| 01:06 | |
| Scott Bixby | |
| Donald Trump, on what Palestinians could do for “neutrality” | |
| “Well, let me tell you - well, the one thing they have to do is they have to end terror, okay? They have to stop with the terror because what they’re doing with the missiles and with the stabbings and with all of the other things that they do, it’s horrible and they’ve got to - it’s got to end.” | |
| “Now, I have many, many friends from Israel and Jewish friends. Everybody wants to see peace. It seems to me the all-time Olympics in peace in a deal. Can you make that deal between Israel and the Palestinians? I think the answer is, maybe. I never say that.” | |
| “Trom the time they’re born, they’re educated a certain way,” Trump said, of Palestinians. “It’s got to change. There’s a bad mindset going on, Wolf.” | |
| 1.05am GMT | |
| 01:05 | |
| Scott Bixby | |
| After playing a clip from Hillary Clinton’s speech in front of Aipac this morning, in which she said “who says he’s neutral on Monday, pro-Israel on Tuesday, and who knows what on Wednesday, because everything’s negotiable,” Trump said Clinton “doesn’t know me.” | |
| “I have the steadiest hands - look at these hands,” Trump said. “I have the steadiest hands - and far steadier than hers. Look where she got us. I mean, look at Libya, look at the migration, look at Benghazi! I mean here’s a woman that’s talk. She’s just - you know, she’s just reading it off a teleprompter. All she does - believe me, they write that for her. Look at the job, probably in history - although I think John Kerry may even be worse, I’m not sure after the Iran deal. But look at what she’s done.” | |
| On whether he would, as promised, be neutral on issues relating to Israel, Trump said “I would love to be neutral if it’s possible.” | |
| “It’s probably not possible, because there’s so much hatred,” Trump continued. “There’s so much going on. I am very pro-Israel. I’ve always been pro-Israel. I have many awards from Israel, many awards. I’ve contributed a lot of money to Israel. There’s nobody more pro-Israel than I am. We have to protect Israel. Israel is so important to us.” | |
| 1.01am GMT | |
| 01:01 | |
| Donald Trump joins Wolf Blitzer on CNN town hall | |
| Scott Bixby | |
| On the heels of his first scripted speech since launching his presidential campaign, billionaire Republican frontrunner Donald Trump was pressed by CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer about international relations and the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato). | |
| “This is your first day in Washington in quite a while,” Blitzer said. “Do you think the United States needs to rethink US involvement in Nato?” | |
| “Yes, because it’s costing us too much money, and frankly, they have to put up more money,” Trump said. “They’re going to have to put some up also. We’re paying disproportionately, it’s too much, and frankly, it’s a different world than it was when we originally conceived of the idea and everybody got together. | |
| “But we’re taking care of, as an example, the Ukraine,” Trump continued. “I mean, the countries over there don’t seem to be so interested. We’re the ones taking the brunt of it. So I think we have to reconsider - keep Nato but maybe we have to pay a lot less toward the Nato itself.” | |
| When asked whether this position would alienate American allies, Trump was unconcerned. “Well, they might not be happy, but you know, they have to help us also. It has to be - we are paying disproportionately, and very importantly, if you use Ukraine as an example, and that’s a great example, the countries surrounding Ukraine, I mean, they don’t seem to care as much about it as we do.” | |
| 1.00am GMT | |
| 01:00 | |
| Ben Jacobs | |
| In a pre-taped interview with Blitzer for the CNN town hall, billionaire Republican frontrunner Donald Trump flip-flopped yet again on whether to deploy ground troops to fight Isis in the Middle East, reports the Guardian’s Ben Jacobs. In the last Republican debate in Miami, Trump said “I would listen to the generals, but I’m hearing numbers of 20,000 to 30,000. We have to knock them out fast.” | |
| In the interview with Blitzer, though, Trump insisted he wouldn’t not send ground troops. “However I wouldn’t deploy 20,000. I’d get people from that part of the world to put up the troops, and I’d certainly give them air power and air support and some military support,” said the frontrunner. Trump insisted “I would never ever put up 20,000 or 30,000.” | |
| Donald Trump doubled down on his calls for the US to be less involved in Nato. He told the Washington Post “I think Nato as a concept is good, but it is not as good as it was when it first evolved” and insisted the United States should play a less significant role in the organization. “We’re paying disproportionately, it’s too much, and frankly, it’s a different world than it was when we originally conceived of the idea and everybody got together,” said Trump. He alleged of the Ukraine, where Russia has invaded and drawn major concern from western and central European allies, “the countries surrounding Ukraine, I mean, they don’t seem to care as much about it as we do.” | |
| The real estate mogul also touched various other foreign policy issues, insisting when it comes to international crises, “I have the steadiest hands” and bragging about once serving as grand marshal of an Israel Day parade when asked about the Middle East. | |
| The Republican frontrunner, facing the possibility of the first contested convention in decades, insisted it did not matter if he didn’t get the 1237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination on the first ballot. | |
| “When you talk about the majority plus one, it’s a very unfair situation because we had so many people running for office,” said Trump. He added, “if I was at 1,190, so I’m a little bit off, and I have millions of votes more than anybody else, because right now I have 2 million votes more than anybody else running for office, by a lot. It’s not even close.” He echoed past comments that “there could very well be riots” if he was denied the nomination but insisted “that happened I’ll have no part in it.” | |
| Trump also defended his Twitter attacks on Fox News personality Megyn Kelly. “Every night, the show, it’s like an infomercial, always negative stuff, always negative stuff, always,” insisted Trump. “Not fair. So I will fight back with Twitter. I will let people know she’s a third rate talent. I will say what I have to say, it’s very simple.” | |
| 12.58am GMT | |
| 00:58 | |
| John Stoehr | |
| Donald Trump has been critical of China’s geopolitics throughout his campaign, but it’s surprising that he’s pretty much the only candidate to harp on this, considering other GOP candidates’ stated views on foreign governments. | |
| For instance, Ted Cruz appears to believe that any state with a record of human rights abuses does not deserve the privilege of doing business with America. As he put it this evening, what President Obama is doing this week in Cuba is pretty much the same thing he did with Iran: alienating our allies and emboldening our enemies. | |
| “What this will do is this will strengthen the repressive regime,” he told Wolf Blitzer. The same sentiment might be said of China, but saying so would alienate the Republican business elites. | |
| 12.46am GMT | |
| 00:46 | |
| “I have zero interest whatsoever in this,” Ted Cruz said of serving as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential campaign mate. | |
| 12.44am GMT | 12.44am GMT |
| 00:44 | 00:44 |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| “We’re seeing Republicans uniting against this campaign,” Cruz said, noting that Lindsey Graham, who once compared choosing to support Cruz to being poisoned. | “We’re seeing Republicans uniting against this campaign,” Cruz said, noting that Lindsey Graham, who once compared choosing to support Cruz to being poisoned. |
| After playing a clip of Donald Trump calling him “Lyin’ Ted,” and noting his disapproval among evangelical voters. | After playing a clip of Donald Trump calling him “Lyin’ Ted,” and noting his disapproval among evangelical voters. |
| “Every time Donald gets scared, he begins lashing out,” Cruz said. “I will say this - Donald’s campaign, his entire campaign is built on a lie.” | “Every time Donald gets scared, he begins lashing out,” Cruz said. “I will say this - Donald’s campaign, his entire campaign is built on a lie.” |
| “I understand the people who are supporting Donald - they are frustrated with Washington,” he continued. “But if you’re fed up with Washington, withb the corruption of Washington, then it doesn’t make any sense to support Donald Trump... he is the system.” | “I understand the people who are supporting Donald - they are frustrated with Washington,” he continued. “But if you’re fed up with Washington, withb the corruption of Washington, then it doesn’t make any sense to support Donald Trump... he is the system.” |
| “Donald trump has made billions buying influence in Washington; Hillary Clinton has made millions selling influence in Washington.” | “Donald trump has made billions buying influence in Washington; Hillary Clinton has made millions selling influence in Washington.” |
| 12.41am GMT | 12.41am GMT |
| 00:41 | 00:41 |
| “What Obama’s doing in Cuba is actually very much the same as what he’s doing in Iran,” Cruz said, lambasting Barack Obama for opening up relations with Cuba. | “What Obama’s doing in Cuba is actually very much the same as what he’s doing in Iran,” Cruz said, lambasting Barack Obama for opening up relations with Cuba. |
| “We should be standing up to enemies of America - we shouldn’t be giving billions of dollars to people who hate us,” Cruz said. “What this will do is this will strengthen the repressive regime of the Castros.” | “We should be standing up to enemies of America - we shouldn’t be giving billions of dollars to people who hate us,” Cruz said. “What this will do is this will strengthen the repressive regime of the Castros.” |
| “There is power in standing up and speaking the truth to evil, and what this president does is the opposite,” Cruz concludes. | “There is power in standing up and speaking the truth to evil, and what this president does is the opposite,” Cruz concludes. |
| 12.38am GMT | 12.38am GMT |
| 00:38 | 00:38 |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| Frank Gaffney, one of Ted Cruz’s new foreign policy advisors, has said that Barack Obama is a hidden Muslim, that Chris Christie committed an act of treason by hiring a Muslim to a government position, that Saddam Hussein was behind the Oklahoma City bombing and that the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the state department - Blitzer asked Cruz whether that’s the kind of person who will be working in a Cruz administration. | |
| Smiling, Cruz said that “folks in the media get really nervous when you actually call out radical Islamic terrorism.” | Smiling, Cruz said that “folks in the media get really nervous when you actually call out radical Islamic terrorism.” |
| “He’s endured attacks from the left, from the media, because he speaks out against radical Islamic terrorism,” Cruz said. “I don’t know what he said in 2009, I don’t have the full context, I’m not interested in playing the media ‘gotcha’ game.” | “He’s endured attacks from the left, from the media, because he speaks out against radical Islamic terrorism,” Cruz said. “I don’t know what he said in 2009, I don’t have the full context, I’m not interested in playing the media ‘gotcha’ game.” |
| “Defending America means defeating radical Islamic terrorism and defeating Isis,” Cruz said. “I’m actually interested in talking about problems in this country - this is silly.” | “Defending America means defeating radical Islamic terrorism and defeating Isis,” Cruz said. “I’m actually interested in talking about problems in this country - this is silly.” |
| Updated | |
| at 12.47am GMT | |
| 12.35am GMT | 12.35am GMT |
| 00:35 | 00:35 |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| Ted Cruz dismissed Donald Trump as likely “unaware” of America’s commitment to America’ Nato allies. “I’ll bet you dollars to donuts Donald has no idea about that,” Cruz said. | Ted Cruz dismissed Donald Trump as likely “unaware” of America’s commitment to America’ Nato allies. “I’ll bet you dollars to donuts Donald has no idea about that,” Cruz said. |
| “That is so hopelessly naive, and what Donald Trump has said is that he would unilaterally surrender to Russia and Putin - give Russia a massive foreign policy victory - and abandon Nato,” Cruz said. “When you saw leaders of the world marching with Paris, and singularly absent was America... that reflects Obama’s leading from behind, and Trump’s foreign policy is Obama-Hillary leading from behind.” | “That is so hopelessly naive, and what Donald Trump has said is that he would unilaterally surrender to Russia and Putin - give Russia a massive foreign policy victory - and abandon Nato,” Cruz said. “When you saw leaders of the world marching with Paris, and singularly absent was America... that reflects Obama’s leading from behind, and Trump’s foreign policy is Obama-Hillary leading from behind.” |
| 12.34am GMT | 12.34am GMT |
| 00:34 | 00:34 |
| John Stoehr | John Stoehr |
| Tonight, John Kasich and Ted Cruz are once again using a national news platform to attempt to beat back the tide of Donald Trump’s candidacy. | Tonight, John Kasich and Ted Cruz are once again using a national news platform to attempt to beat back the tide of Donald Trump’s candidacy. |
| The only thing missing is the supporting role from Fox News showing high-definition graphics of Trump’s flip-flopping. CNN of course would never do that, but it is doing a bang-up job of enabling the co-conspirators to frame their policy views as all things anti-Trumpian. | The only thing missing is the supporting role from Fox News showing high-definition graphics of Trump’s flip-flopping. CNN of course would never do that, but it is doing a bang-up job of enabling the co-conspirators to frame their policy views as all things anti-Trumpian. |
| Next thing you know, someone will admit to liking Cruz. | Next thing you know, someone will admit to liking Cruz. |
| 12.32am GMT | 12.32am GMT |
| 00:32 | 00:32 |
| “Today, at Aipac, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton before him promised to move the embassy [to Jerusalem],” Cruz said, of moving the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. “The difference is that when I promise to do something, I do something.” | “Today, at Aipac, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton before him promised to move the embassy [to Jerusalem],” Cruz said, of moving the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. “The difference is that when I promise to do something, I do something.” |
| “When I say it, I say it taking the consequences into account - it’s not just empty campaign rhetoric,” Cruz said. “Moving the embassy to Jerusalem makes a statement that America is back.” | “When I say it, I say it taking the consequences into account - it’s not just empty campaign rhetoric,” Cruz said. “Moving the embassy to Jerusalem makes a statement that America is back.” |
| “The era of appeasement under the Obama-Clinton foreign policy is over,” Cruz concluded. | “The era of appeasement under the Obama-Clinton foreign policy is over,” Cruz concluded. |