Donald Trump never wanted to be president. He doesn’t even want to be the GOP nominee. This may come as a surprise since Trump has been the GOP front runner for the entire 2016 presidential campaign season. He has received unprecedented media coverage and it seems that he can do no wrong.
Stephanie Cegielski, a strategist for the Make America Great Again super PAC published an open letter last week explaining that the goal of Trump’s campaign was to make Trump more popular:
“Almost a year ago, recruited for my public relations and public policy expertise, I sat in Trump Tower being told that the goal was to get The Donald to poll in double digits and come in second in delegate count.”
Cegielski goes on to say that all of the other candidates underestimated the power of “anger and outrage.” Trump’s bombast has resulted in increasing success for him in the polls.
But, even if Trump doesn’t want the nomination, his ego won’t let him quit now.
Over the last week, Trump has been making headlines with wild statements. He advocated for punishing women for having an abortion, an idea that everyone can agree is preposterous. He kept his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, on his staff and challenged the integrity of the character of the reporter who Lewandoeski manhandled.
He also told an audience that the Geneva Conventions limit the efficiency of the U.S. military; they are designed to protect the humane treatment of combatants and civilians.
Trump lost 36 delegates in Wisconsin after sending Sarah Palin to make a speech there instead of visiting himself. Palin’s speech fell flat, and her audience laughed at her. It’s easy to see why when she says things like:
“What the heck are you thinking [candidates] when you’re actually asking for more immigrants — even illegal immigrants, welcoming them in. Even inducing and seducing them with gift baskets: “Come on over the border and here’s a gift basket of teddy bears and soccer balls.”
Trump doesn’t always have the facts when discussing policy, but he knows how to run a campaign. He wouldn’t alienate women (the largest demographic) and the military, and anger the media, unless he was trying to lose the presidential nomination.
As Richard Zombeck wrote for Huffington Post,
“What began as a con will end as a con…Other republicans will chastise him for the things that he says, proving to his followers that he is being targeted by an establishment that is afraid of him. Trump will walk away unscathed, his brand strengthened and his dignity intact. He will be the guy who nearly became president, but was too much for people to take.”
Featured image via Flickr, available under a Creative Commons license.
