NEW YORK — As Donald Trump considers another White House run, polls show he’s the most popular figure in the Republican Party. But it wasn’t always that way.
kAmr@>A6E:?8 2E @?6 A@:?E 282:?DE 2 5@K6? C:G2=D 7@C E96 AC6D:56?E:2= ?@>:?2E:@? 😕 a_`e[ %CF>A H@? @?=J 23@FE @?6E9:C5 @7 E96 G@E6 😕 <6J 62C=J DE2E6D] w6 6G6? =@DE 😕 x@H2[ H9:49 <:4<D @77 E96 ?@>:?2E:@? AC@46DD]k^Am
kAmqFE 96 AC6G2:=65 3642FD6 E9@D6 😕 E96 A2CEJ H9@ @AA@D65 9:D 3C2?5 @7 5:G:D:G6 A@=:E:4D H6C6 ?6G6C 23=6 E@ 4@2=6D46 2C@F?5 2 D:?8=6 C:G2=] %92E D2>6 5J?2>:4 4@F=5 C6A62E :ED6=7 2D %CF>A >F==D 2 ?6H 3:5 7@C E96 AC6D:56?4J 2D D@@? 2D E9:D DF>>6C]k^Am
kAm(:E9 2 8C@H:?8 =:DE @7 42?5:52E6D 862C:?8 FA E@ CF?[ 6G6? 2 %CF>A 5:>:?:D965 3J EH@ :>A6249>6?ED 2?5 >@F?E:?8 =682= GF=?6C23:=:E:6D 4@F=5 9@=5 2 4@>>2?5:?8 A@D:E:@? 😕 2 7C24EFC65[ >F=E:42?5:52E6 AC:>2CJ]k^Am
kAmQx 762C :E 4@F=5 6?5 FA E96 D2>6 H2J 2D a_`e[ H9:49 32D:42==J H2D 6G6CJ@?6 E9@F89E 6G6CJ@?6 6=D6 D9@F=5 86E @FE[Q D2:5 #6AF3=:42? DEC2E68:DE |:<6 sFw2:>6[ H9@ 25G:D65 7@C>6C }6H y6CD6J v@G] r9C:D r9C:DE:6VD 42>A2:8? E92E J62C] “x E9:?< 6G6CJ >2;@C 42?5:52E6 C62=:K65 E92E 96 @C D96 H@F=5 92G6 2 36EE6C D9@E 282:?DE %CF>A @?6@?@?6] qFE @7 4@FCD6 6249 A6CD@? E9@F89E 96 @C D96 D9@F=5 36 E96 @?6 E@ 86E E92E D9@E 2?5 ?@3@5J 8@E @FE @7 E96 H2J] ]]] p?5 E96? :E H2D E@@ =2E6]”k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^A@=:E:4DQm%96 2?I:6EJ 😀 >@F?E:?8 2D 2 8C@H:?8 =:DE @7 A@E6?E:2= C:G2=D E2<6 :?4C62D:?8=J 3C2K6? DE6ADk^2m[ 56=:G6C:?8 9:89AC@7:=6 DA66496D[ CF??:?8 25D[ 4@FCE:?8 5@?@CD 2?5 >2<:?8 C6A62E G:D:ED E@ 62C=J G@E:?8 DE2E6D]k^Am
kAm%92E 8C@FA ?@H :?4=F56D FAH2C5 @7 2 5@K6? 4@F=53642?5:52E6D[ :?4=F5:?8 %CF>AVD 7@C>6C G:46 AC6D:56?E[ |:<6 !6?46j 9:D 7@C>6C D64C6E2CJ @7 DE2E6[ |:<6 !@>A6@j 2?5 $6?D] %65 rCFK @7 %6I2D[ %@> r@EE@? @7 pC<2?D2D[ #:4< $4@EE @7 u=@C:52 2?5 %:> $4@EE @7 $@FE9 r2C@=:?2] p== 4@F=5 CF? @? E96 7@C>6C AC6D:56?EVD A@=:4:6D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 2?E:%CF>A =2?6[ A@=:E:4:2?D DF49 2D #6A] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^=:K496?6JQm{:K r96?6Jk^2m @7 (J@>:?8 2?5 |2CJ=2?5 v@G] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^=2CCJ9@82?Qm{2CCJ w@82?k^2m 2C6 C2:D:?8 E96:C AC@7:=6D]k^Am
kAmu=@C:52 v@G] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^C@?56D2?E:DQm#@? s6$2?E:Dk^2m 😀 :?4C62D:?8=J D66? 2D %CF>AVD 96:C 2AA2C6?E[ 6G6? 3J %CF>AVD >@DE =@J2= DFAA@CE6CD[ 2?5 G:6H65 3J %CF>A 2==:6D 2D 9:D >@DE 7@C>:523=6 A@E6?E:2= 492==6?86C]k^Am
kAmu@C>6C $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 v@G] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^?:<<:92=6JQm}:<<: w2=6Jk^2m 2?5 @E96CD 92G6 D2:5 E96J H:== ?@E 492==6?86 %CF>A :7 96 5@6D 8@ 7@CH2C5] qFE @E96CD[ :?4=F5:?8 r9C:DE:6[ D66> E@ 36 8F??:?8 7@C E96 7:89E[ 6G6? :7 E96J D66> E@ 36 =@?8 D9@ED]k^Am
kAm“x’> 567:?:E6=J 8:G:?8 :E D6C:@FD E9@F89E] x’> ?@E 8@??2 >2<6 2?J 564:D:@? AC@323=J F?E:= E96 6?5 @7 E96 J62C[” r9C:DE:6 D2:5 😕 2 C646?E :?E6CG:6H] w6 92D FC865 E96 A2CEJ E@ >@G6 @? 7C@> %CF>A 2?5 9:D @?8@:?8 @3D6DD:@? H:E9 E96 a_a_ 6=64E:@?]k^Am
kAm“u@C >6[ :E’D 23@FE E96 A2CEJ ?665:?8 E@ 8@ 😕 😕 2 ?6H 5:C64E:@? 7C@> 2 A6CD@?2=:EJ A6CDA64E:G6[ 2?5 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ 92G6 D@>6@?6 H9@ 42? 3C:?8 DEC@?8 =6256CD9:A[ E@F89 =6256CD9:A[ E92E E96 4@F?ECJ ?665D[ 3FE 5@6D?’E 92G6 2== @7 E96 @E96C 5C2>2 E92E 8@6D 2=@?8 H:E9 :E[Q 96 D2:5] “x’> 962C:?8 E96 D2>6 E9:?8D 7C@> 5@?@CD E92E x’> 962C:?8 7C@> G@E6CD — E92E E96J’C6 G6CJ 4@?46C?65 E92E H6 42?’E AFE @FCD6=G6D 😕 2 A@D:E:@? E@ 92G6 a_ac 36 23@FE 2?JE9:?8 3FE E96 8@@5 @7 E96 4@F?ECJ]”k^Am
kAm!@>A6@[ H9@ 92D 925 2 3FDJ EC2G6= D4965F=6 2?5 A=2?D E@ C6EFC? E@ x@H2 E9:D DF>>6C[ D2:5 😕 2 C646?E :?E6CG:6H E92E 96 92D 366? DA6?5:?8 E:>6 C625:?8 2?5 =:DE6?:?8 E@ !C6D:56?E #@?2=5 #6282?’D DA66496D 2D 96 AC6A2C6D 7@C 2 A@DD:3=6 CF?]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 86EE:?8 C625J E@ DE2J 😕 E96 7:89E[” 96 D2:5 =2DE >@?E9 2D 96 4@FCE65 6G2?86=:42= r9C:DE:2?D 2E 2 82E96C:?8 😕 }2D9G:==6[ %6??6DD66]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 96 2?5 9:D H:76 H@F=5 D:E 5@H? 27E6C E96 }@G6>36C 6=64E:@?D 2?5 “E9:?< @FC H2J E9C@F89 :E[ AC2J @FC H2J E9C@F89 :E[ 2?5 564:56 H96C6’D 36DE E@ D6CG6] xE 4@F=5 36 AC6D6?E:?8 @FCD6=G6D 7@C 6=64E65 @77:46 282:?] (6 >2J 49@@D6 2 5:776C6?E A2E9] qFE H6’C6 ?@E 8@??2 H2=< 2H2J 7C@> E96D6 E9:?8D E92E x’G6 366? H@C<:?8 @? 7@C b_ J62CD ?@H] %96J >2EE6C E@@ >F49]”k^Am
kAm!@>A6@ D<6E4965 @FE 2 A@DD:3=6 2AAC@249 😕 >F49 E96 D2>6 >@=5 2D %CF>A]k^Am
kAm“w6 H2D 2 5:DCFAE@C E92E H2D >@DE ?646DD2CJ 😕 a_`e[ E96C6’D ?@ 5@F3E 23@FE E92E[Q !@>A6@ D2:5] p?5 ?@H E96 E2D< 😀 E@ E2<6 E9@D6 D6E @7 F?56CDE2?5:?8D[ E9@D6 D6E @7 AC:?4:A=6D[ 2?5 5676?5 E96> 2?5 3F:=5 FA@? E96>] p?5 :E’D 8@??2 E2<6 2 =@E @7 H@C< E@ 5@ E92E[ =6256CD @7 C62= 7@CE:EF56 2?5 492C24E6C E@ 5@ E92E]Qk^Am
kAm$F49 @A6? E2=< 4@>6D 2D %CF>A 7246D 2 42D4256 @7 6D42=2E:?8 =682= EC@F3=6D]k^Am
kAm%96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^42A:E@=D:686nFE>0D@FC46l2A?6HD?2GU2>AjFE>0>65:F>l762EFC65Qm4@?8C6DD:@?2= 4@>>:EE66k^2m :?G6DE:82E:?8 E96 y2?] e :?DFCC64E:@? 92D C6G62=65 :?4C62D:?8=J 52>28:?8 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE %CF>A’D 7:?2= H66<D 😕 @77:46] %96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 92D :ED @H? :?G6DE:82E:@?] x? v6@C8:2[ E96 AC@D64FE@C :?G6DE:82E:?8 %CF>AVD A@E6?E:2==J :==682= >655=:?8 😕 E96 DE2E6VD a_a_ 6=64E:@? 92D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^a_aa>:5E6C>6=64E:@?D?6HJ@C<5@?2=5ECF>A86@C8:22E=2?E2hdcac6_f_gh4e5dbb3h3`c27aff6265bQmDE6AA65 FA 96C :?BF:CJk^2m 3J DF3A@6?2:?8 >6>36CD @7 %CF>AVD :??6C 4:C4=6] x? }6H *@C<[ %CF>A[ 9:D ?2>6D2<6 D@? 2?5 9:D 52F89E6C xG2?<2 92G6 28C665 E@ 2?DH6C BF6DE:@?D F?56C @2E9 368:??:?8 ?6IE H66< 😕 E96 DE2E6 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=’D 4:G:= :?G6DE:82E:@? :?E@ 9:D 3FD:?6DD AC24E:46D]k^Am
kAm|:4< |F=G2?6J[ 2 7@C>6C $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 4@?8C6DD>2? H9@ D6CG65 2D %CF>AVD 24E:?8 (9:E6 w@FD6 49:67 @7 DE277[ D2:5 E96 >@G6D DF886DE65 A@E6?E:2= 42?5:52E6D “>:89E D66 2? @A6?:?8 H96C6 ?@?6 6I:DE65 EH@ >@?E9D 28@]”k^Am
kAm“%CF>A 72E:8F6 >:89E 36 2 C62= E9:?8[” 96 D2:5[ H:E9 G@E6CD 2D<:?8 E96>D6=G6D H96E96C[ :7 E96J G@E6 7@C 2?@E96C 42?5:52E6[ E96J Q42? 86E E96 D2>6 A@=:4:6D H:E9@FE 2== E96 3288286]”k^Am
kAmpE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ %CF>A 92D D66? D@>6 @7 9:D 6?5@CD65 AC:>2CJ 42?5:52E6D 72=E6C] %9@D6 H9@ 92G6 H@?[ :?4=F5:?8 $6?2E6 9@A67F=D ys ‘2?46 😕 ~9:@ 2?5 |69>6E ~K 😕 !6??DJ=G2?:2[ 92G6 5@?6 D@ H:E9 23@FE b_T @7 E96 G@E6[ >62?:?8 E92E EH@E9:C5D @7 A2CEJ G@E6CD H6?E 282:?DE %CF>AVD A:4<D]k^Am
kAm“x 5@?’E E9:?< 2?J3@5J F?56C6DE:>2E6D %CF>A] %96C6’D 2 C62D@? 96’D E96 >@DE D@F89E27E6C 6?5@CD6>6?E 😕 6G6CJ D:?8=6 #6AF3=:42? AC:>2CJ[Q D2:5 v~! DEC2E68:DE p=6I r@?2?E] “%92E D2:5[ x E9:?< E96C6’D 2 C64@8?:E:@? E92E 2 =@E @7 #6AF3=:42? G@E6CD 2C6 =@@<:?8 E@ E96 7FEFC6 2?5 C625J 7@C H92E’D ?6IE]”k^Am
kAm%@ H92E 6IE6?E C6>2:?D 2? @A6? BF6DE:@?] sFC:?8 2 EC:A E@ x@H2 E9:D H66<[ r@EE@? 564=:?65 E@ H6:89 😕 @? %CF>A’D DE2?5:?8] qFE E96 D6?2E@C D2:5 96 9@A65 E@ 36 “2? 67764E:G6 ?2E:@?2= =6256C[ ?@E @?=J 7@C >J A2CEJ 3FE 7@C E96 p>6C:42? A6@A=6 😕 >J C@=6 😕 E96 $6?2E6 2?5 2?J @E96C 7FEFC6 C@=6 x >:89E D6CG6]”k^Am
kAm$E:==[ r@EE@? 2C8F65[ 42?5:52E6D D9@F=5 6>3C246 %CF>AVD =6824J]k^Am
kAm“x <?@H E92E s@?2=5 %CF>A 😀 G6CJ A@AF=2C 2>@?8 @FC G@E6CD H9@ 2AAC64:2E6 E96 DF446DD6D 96 56=:G6C65 7@C 7@FC J62CD 😕 2 G6CJ 9@DE:=6 6?G:C@?>6?E] %96J 5@?’E H2?E #6AF3=:42?D H9@ 2C6 CF??:?8 282:?DE E92E =6824J[ 3642FD6 E96J G:6H E92E =6824J 2D 2 8C62E DF446DD[” 96 D2:5 %9FCD52J 😕 r2>3C:586[ x@H2]k^Am
k9C ^m
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.6”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));