When Donald Trump’s campaign chairman and chief strategist’s mouth gets going, it gets going. In a recent interview, Paul Manafort didn’t only explain that Trump would want a vice president to “do the part of the job he doesn’t want to do,” but it definitely won’t be a woman or person of color. He also had things to say about Trump’s Muslim ban and his border wall. When it comes to the former:
“He’s already started moderating on that,” Manafort said. “He operates by starting the conversation at the outer edges and then brings it back towards the middle. Within his comfort zone, he’ll soften it some more.”
“He’ll still end up outside of the norm, but in line with what the American people are thinking.”
Trump is moderating so deftly, too, claiming recently that his proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the U.S. was “only a suggestion.” If you’ve been worried Trump would pivot to a general election message with such skill as to bury Hillary Clinton, that should be encouraging in its clumsiness. Can’t wait for the next “softening” on the desire Trump repeatedly and explicitly expressed to ban Muslims.
One thing Trump is not “moderating” or “softening” on will be his beautiful border wall:
“He is going to build a wall. That is a core thing with him,” Manafort said. “He will push it strongly, and he will push for the immigration changes just as strongly.”
But Trump supporters and concerned Republican establishment figures shouldn’t worry about the Latino vote. Trump will do just fine with Latinos, Manafort says. People just don’t know it yet because “The national polls are distorted,” and when Manafort unskews them, they look promising.