Trump Is a Flip-Flopper: Part 1

Is it unreasonable to expect a little bit of consistency? 

If you like Trump’s current positions, you have no reason to think Trump will actually implement any of them since Trump changes his values more often than most people change underwear, but before we get into the major examples of Trump reversing his political positions on some yuuuuuug issues, I should mention that I’m excluding a ton of relatively minor flip-flops from this list. Also, I’m not going to spend long discussing how Trump’s current policies conflict with his positions in decades prior other than to quickly mention those changes here.

In 1990, Trump supported drug legalization. Now, he generally opposes it. 

In 1999, Trump strongly supported all abortions. Today he generally opposes abortion.

In 1999, Trump advocated a 5.7 trillion dollar tax increase on the wealthy. Today, his tax policy is more in line with the mainstream Republican view which favors lower taxes for all income brackets.

In 2000, Trump supported civil union benefits for gay couples. Now, he opposes them.

In 2000, Trump advocated privatizing Social Security. Now, he says we should leave it alone.

In 2000, Trump called for more gun control. Now, Trump opposes all increased gun control measures.

That’s enough with the old news. Let’s take a look at Trump’s big, recent flip-flops.

Political Party

Trump was a registered Democrat from 2001 to 2009. This is simple but important. The man many Republicans think is the guy to lead the party fought that party just six years before he launched his Presidential campaign. The man supposedly aiming to reverse eight horrible years of Democrat rule under Barack Obama generally supported Democrat goals just a handful of years ago. People have the right to change their minds, but can’t the Republicans find anyone to lead the country who hasn’t completely reversed his entire political worldview in the last six years?

President Obama

Trump is well-practiced at serving the conservative base red meat with his blunt  criticism of President Obama, but just rolling the clock back a few years reveals a Trump who was downright laudatory of President Obama. 

In an interview in February 2009 responding to Obama’s massive budget busting stimulus package, Trump said, “This is a strong guy knows what he wants, and this is what we need…it looks like we have somebody that knows what he is doing finally in office.” 

In his book Like a Champion released in April 2009, Trump said, “What he (Obama) has done is amazing…He understands how the economy works on a comprehensive level. He has also surrounded himself with very competent people, and that’s the mark of a strong leader…The world is excited about Barack Obama and the new United States. Let’s keep it that way.”  

In an interview from April 2009, Trump said, “I really like him. I think that he’s working very hard. He’s trying to rebuild our reputation throughout the world…He’s totally a champion.”

Hillary Clinton 

Based on his constant criticism of Hillary today, you might think Trump despised Secretary Clinton. However, Hillary could literally make a compelling minute long ad consisting of nothing more than quotes of Donald Trump gushing over the former Secretary of State. 

In 2007, Trump said Hillary was great, he hoped she would become the Democratic nominee and that she would have good people negotiate a deal with Iran. That same year, Trump again praised her saying, “I know her very well. She’s very talented. And she has a husband that I also like very much. Trump affirmed that she was, “very, very capable.” Regarding Hillary’s healthcare proposals which were very similar to Obamacare, Trump said, “I think it was very good. I think she came out with an idea. It’s a very, very complex set of things going on right now in terms of healthcare. But she came out with an idea, it sounds like a pretty good idea, and a lot of people like it and embraced it.”

Trump actually endorsed Hillary in 2008, “I know Hillary and I think she’d make a great president or vice-president.” To my knowledge, this election cycle marks the first time a likely Republican nominee for President has ever endorsed the likely Democrat nominee for President.

Of course, you could try to dismiss all this as a relic of Trump’s bygone Democrat days, but he has actually made these types of comments since his Republican conversion. In 2012, Trump said, “Hillary Clinton I think is a terrific woman…I think she really works hard. And I think, again, she’s given an agenda, it is not all of her, but I think she really works hard and I think she does a good job. I like her.”

We’ve been told that Donald Trump has tapped into a wellspring of disenchanted conservatives who have grown tired to placing their faith in Republicans who say one thing while running for office and then change their policies when in power, yet ironically, these disenchanted voters have rallied around a man who has changed positions more radically and more often than the  vast majority of elected officials without even facing the pressure to compromise that accompanies political office. I can think of no greater leap of faith than to stake the fate of the nation on the premise that Donald Trump has sincerely changed his entire worldview since 2009. 

If you enjoyed this article, you'll be happy to know I've written a whole series on Trump. Click Here to Check them Out. 

III. Trump Is Malicious: Part 2

In my previous article (Check Out Part One), I discussed how Trump will mercilessly and personally attack anyone who stands in his way even if the target for Trump’s wrath did nothing wrong. 

This pattern of behavior should seem familiar to you. For the past seven years, conservatives have criticized the divisive tactics of President Obama. Using his Presidential influence, Obama has also exercised his power to punish political enemies, deride media organizations that opposed his policies and use derogatory language against those that criticized him. Though he’d never admit it, Trump has found someone who shares his penchant for nursing petty emotional bruises and his thirst for enacting revenge in Obama. 

Realize that if Donald Trump becomes the next President of the United States, we will give a man who openly admits that he uses his power to inflict pain on those that oppose him more power than any other individual on the planet. As scary as it may be to think of Trump with nukes, there is actually a much more subtle set of weapons Trump might use to bring retribution on his enemies.

In 2013, it came to light that the IRS had unjustly targeted conservative groups for additional scrutiny, investigation and prosecution. Despite these crimes, nobody has been fired or prosecuted for this abuse of federal power. Attempts to try and determine who gave the orders for this targeting have not succeeded, but regardless of the identity of the scheme’s architect, the fact remains that someone decided to use the power of the government bureaucracy to suppress a political enemy, and nobody has or likely ever will answer for it.

The federal government has over a hundred agencies, and each one of those could be wielded as a weapon for personal gain by a man with sufficient power but insufficient ethics. If you think Trump has the self-restraint to choose mercy and forgiveness instead of vengeance and retribution, then consider this true story from the pages of Trump’s past. 

After the Death of Donald’s father, Fred Trump Sr., Donald found himself in a legal dispute with his nephew Fred Trump III over the senior Fred Trump’s estate. Fred III alleged that his grandfather’s will had been changed to heavily favor Donald and other family members in the last years of Fred Sr.’s life even though Fred Sr. was suffering from the effects of Alzheimers and could only have changed his will under guided influence. A week after Fred III filed the lawsuit, Donald terminated the health insurance benefits Fred III received from Donald’s company. A harsh move? Sure, but this is hardly the first time a family dispute lead to interfamily manipulations. 

Sadly, the story gets worse. Fred III had a son, William, who was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder that creates seizures, brain damage and large stacks of medical bills. By the time of the lawsuit, William had already been near death twice and needed frequent medical attention. Being fully aware of this, Trump pulled the insurance from his nephew and grandnephew purely for the sake of revenge and leverage. When asked why he cut medical coverage, Trump admitted, “I was angry because they sued.” When the interviewer suggested that was coldblooded, Trump agreed saying, “I can’t help that. It’s cold when someone sues my father. Had he come to see me, things could very possibly have been much different for them.”

Trump’s pattern is clear. He destroys all those who oppose him. Perhaps you know this, yet you find in yourself with a desire for revenge. Perhaps you want to see Democrats and Progressives suffer at the hands of a man who knows how to abuse power. If so, your heart’s in the wrong place, but if I can’t reach your heart, maybe you’re head is still operational. Trump won’t target just the leftists. He will turn on you and anyone else who breaks ranks with him for even a second for that is his nature. 

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Trump Articles Guide

I've written a series of articles on why Donald Trump would be a terrible President. From here, you can click on any specific sections that interest you. 

I. Trump Is a Narcissist 

II. Trump’s Policies Are Terrible: Part 1 (Universal Healthcare, Pathway to Citizenship, Banking)

II. Trump’s Policies Are Terrible: Part 2 (Eminent Domain, Bailouts, Stimulus Packages, Affirmative Action, Tariffs, Murder)

II. Trump’s Policies Are Terrible: Part 3 (Ethanol, Military, Social Security, Patriot Act, Snowden, Imperialism)

III. Trump Is Malicious: Part 1 (Attacks People Personally, Betrays Anyone, Steals Property)

III. Trump Is Malicious: Part 2 (Trump's potential for abuse is even greater, Trump betrays own family)

IV. Trump Is a Flip-Flopper: Part 1 (Trump has flip-flopped on party, Obama and Hillary)

IV. Trump Is a Flip-Flopper: Part 2 (Flip-Flops on Syrian Refugees, Iraq, Afghanistan, War in Syria and Campaign Donations)

V. Trump Understands Neither the Problem We Face nor the Solution We Need

VI. Trump Is a Horrible Person: Part 1 (Liar, Malicious, Thief)

VI. Trump Is a Horrible Person: Part 2 (Sexual Sleaze, Briber, Egomaniac, Racist, Faux Christian)

VII. Trump Will Lose the General Election

III. Trump Is Malicious: Part 1

“When someone crosses you, my advice is ‘Get Even!’ That is not typical advice, but it is real life advice. If you do not get even, you are just a schmuck! When people wrong you, go after those people because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it. I love getting even. I get screwed all the time. I go after people, and you know what? People do not play around with me as much as they do with others. They know that if they do, they are in for a big fight.” (Source)

These are the words of Donald Trump written in his 1989 book The Art of the Deal, and throughout his life, Trump has stayed true to his code. 

An element of this that rings true to many conservatives. When someone hits you, you hit them harder. If an enemy of the United States attacks and kills U.S. citizens, then the U.S. will use the full force of the military to strike our enemies mercilessly until they feel the wrath of God and reach the epiphany that they will never profit when they challenge the resolve of the United States.

Applied to war, Trump perfectly articulates the conservative mindset.

Unfortunately when Trump says he will “get even,” and, “go after people,” he does not refer to a military setting. He means when people are mean to him, he will attack those people on a personal level with everything he possesses, and this is a problem.

We all deal with criticism every day. People disagree with us, challenge us and point out our mistakes, and occasionally, they may even slight us and try to hurt our feelings. People with wisdom and self-control learn from these experiences and grow stronger. People without wisdom and self-control freak out, escalate the hostility and take a pound of flesh from those they deem enemies. 

Everybody knows Trump falls into the latter category. 

There is nothing wrong with Trump using his voice to defend himself and his views, but Trump immediately makes personal attacks the second anyone opposes him, and he does this by using one of his most powerful weapons, his celebrity influence.

In separate instances conservative editor Bill Kristol, conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer and conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg all criticized Trump’s policies. In response, Trump let the defamations fly. 

“Bill, your small and slightly failing magazine will be a giant success when you finally back Trump. Country will soar!” (Source)

“One of the worst and most boring political pundits on television is @krauthammer. A totally overrated clown who speaks without knowing facts,” (Source)

“Jonah Goldberg @JonahNRO of the once great @NRO#National Review is truly dumb as a rock. Why does @BretBaier put this dummy on his show?” (Source)

Thus, Trump’s constant barrage of acrimonious tweeting demonstrates that he has the intellectual and emotional maturity of your average YouTube commenter combined with the self-control of an alcoholic on St. Patty’s Day and the hypersensitivity of Tumbler feminist at a meninist rally.

Defending yourself is fine. Trump would earn respect if he would demonstrate his substantive understanding of the issues by defending his positions. Only those who lack the ability to refute criticism devolve into anger, misdirection and ad hominem attacks when challenged, yet consistently, Trump chooses to take the low road when anyone gets on his bad side. 

Trump’s diatribes might be more forgivable if he only targeted those who treated him badly, but Trump takes offense at the most trivial of provocations. Perhaps most famously, Trump objected to Megyn Kelly’s when she did her job by asking hard questions in the first FOX debate. Despite the fact that her questions were completely relevant and no more harsh for Trump than for anyone else, Trump still went on a tirade and insinuated that Kelly was just angry because she was on her period. “You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her…wherever.” Five months later when the second FOX debate took place, Trump was still nursing his hurt feeling, and since he couldn’t convince FOX to block Kelly as moderator, Trump used the only method of revenge he had by blowing off the debate altogether. “Let's see how much money Fox is going to make on the debate without me.”

There doesn’t even need to be an actual offense for Trump to put you on his enemy list. Perhaps nobody better represents this than Ted Cruz of whom Trump has recently said, “He's a nasty guy. Nobody likes him,” yet this is the same Trump who in 2014 said, “The truth is that he (Cruz) shouldn’t be controversial because what he’s doing is right…He really is a special guy. He’s now a very, very popular and important figure in all of our lives.” Cruz hasn’t changed, but once Cruz become a Presidential rival, Trump stopped treating Cruz with basic human decency. 

Trump uses more than mere words to destroy those in his way. Because they would not sell their homes, Trump used his lawyers to try and dislodge property owners so he could take their land and create vacation destinations. Innocent people had to waste their time and money on lawyers just so they could keep their homes from Trump’s greedy clutches.

The takeaway is clear. Trump will use whatever power he has to destroy those he deems his enemies, and anyone who gets in his way is an enemy.

If you enjoyed this article, you'll be happy to know I've written a whole series on Trump. Click Here to Check them Out. 

II. Trump’s Policies Are Terrible: Part 3

We’ve previously discussed how Trump’s policy positions are deeply flawed. All Americans should be disgusted by Trump’s support for eminent domain abuses and the murder of the families of terrorists. For conservatives, Trump’s advocacy of the nationalization of healthcare and banking should make the man anathema. Still, there’s another group that should have an even lower impression of Trump, libertarians.

Bizarrely, Trump has attracted a smattering of libertarian support, but no group should be more opposed to The Donald. Here are a few of Trump’s policies that should send libertarians running for the hills.

Support for Ethanol

The fact that Trump backs ethanol subsidies, “100 percent,” undermines any claims Trump has ever made about being a smart businessman who will reform broken Washington programs that waste tax-payer money. 

Ethanol subsides are nothing more than corporate welfare. The federal governments promotes this awful product by giving several subsidies to farmers and mandating ethanol’s use by federal agencies, yet ethanol provides less energy per gallon, costs more, requires more energy to create and produces more greenhouse gases than gasoline. As an added bonus, it also increases the cost of food and destroys car engines.

If Trump is unwilling to pull the plug on this useless program, he’s won't pull the plug on anything. 

 “I’m the Most Militaristic Person.” 

They say that if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail, so when Trump proudly proclaims to be, “the most militaristic person on the stage,” that should make anyone who doesn’t want the United States using military force to solve every problem think twice. The word, “militaristic” means the pursual of an aggressive military policy. Shouldn’t we be using the military for defensive purposes?

Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security

Trump has the perfect solution for problems with Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security funding crisis; do nothing and hope for the best.

“As Republicans, if you think you're going to change very substantially for the worse Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in any substantial way, and at the same time, you think you're going to win elections, it just really is not going to happen…The way we solve our problems is to build a great economy.” 

To be fair, Trump is correct that these entitlement programs are the third rail of politics, but the fact remains that we now have over $101 trillion dollars of unfunded liabilities (money the government has promised to pay for programs that we have no way of affording) largely driven by these three programs, and vague promises to grow the economy is nothing more than wishful thinking.

The Patriot Act

The Patriot Act violated the Constitution by empowering the United States government to spy on U.S. citizens and collect their digital data without a warrant, but Trump doesn’t care. When asked about restoring the Patriot Act, Trump responded, “I think that would be fine. As far as I’m concerned, that would be fine.”

Execute Snowden

Trump suggested that Edward Snowden is a traitor and should be executed.

“I think Snowden is a terrible threat, I think he’s a terrible traitor and you know what we used to do in the good old days when we were a strong country, you know what we used to do to traitors right?”  Trump allowed the interviewer to finish his thought by saying, “You killed them.”

I understand that many conservatives see Snowden as a traitor, but if he had not exposed government secrets, the public would never have known the government was abusing their constitutional rights and lying to them.

Taking Oil from Iraq

Throughout the George W. Bush administration, Republicans were constantly on the defense as they argued that the War in Iraq had nothing to do with oil. Now, Trump argues the war should have been about oil. 

Trump pretends that his plan to seize Iraq’s oil is designed to undermine ISIS, but that’s a lie. He was advocating this policy back in 2011 when nobody knew nor cared about the burgeoning terrorist group. His position has nothing to do with security and everything to do with profit. “In the old days, you know when you had a war, to the victor belong the spoils. You go in. You win the war and you take it…you’re not stealing anything…we’re taking back $1.5 trillion to reimburse ourselves.” 

This strikes a chord with some people, but it shouldn’t. What Trump is advocating here is essentially imperialism, and though that might sound nice to those who want to see the U.S. prosper by any means necessary, let’s not forget that empires are notoriously expensive to run. Considering that we cannot simply yank all of the oil out of the ground and bring it home overnight, taking Iraqi oil would require the United States to secure the oil wells and all transportation routes for that oil with U.S. military force for as long as the wells remains tapped, so this supposedly cost saving idea would inevitably result in a perpetual war in Iraq. Still, maybe this idea would deserve some consideration IF we had not already promised Iraq that it could keep its oil. To break our word and seize those resources now twelve years after we returned sovereignty to the Iraqi people would simply be unjust.

Conclusion: Style over Substance

Nobody can deny that Trump has some reality show charisma that makes him entertaining to watch, but when it comes to the issues, Trump’s policies are a disaster. Few if any of you will agree completely with me on every issue, but out of the many topics we’ve discussed, surely you must find some of these stances highly problematic. One of Trump’s official positions is to literally murder innocent people! How can anyone look at Trump’s specific policy plans and think this is the man that should lead the free world?

Click Here for More Articles on Trump. 

II. Trump’s Policies Are Terrible: Part 2

Previously, (Click Here for Part One) we covered some of Trump’s horrible policy positions including his support for universal healthcare, amnesty for illegal immigrants and a government takeover of the banking system, but that's far from the only place where Trump's current policy positions break from genuine conservatism. 

Eminent Domain

For over two hundred years, the United States only used eminent domain to force private property owners to sell their land when the government absolutely had to have certain property for a crucial function of government.

This all changed in the infamous Kelo Supreme Court decision when it was ruled that the government could seize private party for the benefit of other private property owners. If you owned a home and a businessman wanted to bulldoze your home and build a shopping mall on your property, the government could force you to sell. Though the vast majority of the American people opposed this ruling, Trump fully embraced it saying, “I happen to agree with it 100%.” This isn’t surprising considering that Trump had already attempted this method of seizing property several times.

Trump’s support for the Kelo decision means he has less respect for private property than the socialist in the race, Bernie Sanders. 

Bailouts

Though the political elites seemed to think the bailouts were a good idea, many citizens were enraged when they realized taxpayers were on the hook for the mistakes of bankers and auto manufacturers. During the planning stages of the bailout, Trump said, "I think it would be better if it (the bailouts) passed…maybe it works, and maybe it doesn't. But certainly it is worth a shot.” The next year, Trump reflected back on the bailout saying, “The one thing is, the government came in and intelligently put money into the banks, so that if you have your money in CDs or whatever in the banks, you’re not going to lose your money at least.” Trump suggested the auto industry was also too big to fail. “I think the government should stand behind them 100 percent… You cannot lose the auto companies.” 

Stimulus Packages

Back in 2009 when President Obama and the Democrat controlled legislature was spending money like drunken sailors on shore leave, Trump praised Obama’s budget busting stimulus package opining that the way President Obama ignored budget constraints in the name of “Building infrastructure, building great projects, putting people to work in that sense is also very good.” 

Affirmative Action

Trump supports racial and sexual discrimination via affirmative action. To quote The Donald, “I’m fine with affirmative action.” 

Tariffs

Tariffs are not exactly the big flash issue that gets everybody fired up during the election cycle, but it's worth pointing out that Trump is the only GOP Presidential candidate proposing the U.S. raise tariffs on foreign nations. Unlike Trump, Republicans have long supported the idea that people in the United States should be able to trade with people in other nations with minimal government intervention.

I’m less than dogmatic on this issue not having the economic depth to ponder all the implications, but common sense will tell you that tariffs increase the cost of goods and decrease the amount of international trade. On the flip side, many argue that tariffs should increase domestic investment and increase domestic wages. Which of these factors outweighs the other is impossible for me to determine, but most economists say free trade is superior. Considering that government involvement in the market nearly always results in more problems than progress, I’m inclined to think that tariffs are a bad idea. 

From what I can tell, no Republican President has supported increasing tariffs since President Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 which many economists blame for creating The Great Depression. If that’s doesn’t make you think twice, consider that the only other Presidential candidate who is proposing new tariffs this election cycle is Bernie Sanders.

Kill the Family Members of ISIS

Even by Trump standards, this one is a little hard to fathom. The United States has always understood that fighting its enemies will inevitably lead to the death of innocents caught in the crossfire, but we’ve never been a nation that intentionally kills innocent people because they happen to be related to our enemies. Murdering innocents based on the actions of their kin goes against the entire premise of individual rights and responsibilities which was once the core of American values, yet it’s impossible to ignore the fact that Trump advocates this slaughter. 

“The other thing with the terrorists is you have to take out their families, when you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families. They care about their lives, don't kid yourself. When they say they don't care about their lives, you have to take out their families.”  

You could argue that Trump meant something along the lines of, “You have to be willing to risk collateral damage when trying to kill terrorists,” but when Trump was asked how intentionally killing innocents would set the U.S. apart from the terrorists in a debate, Trump refused to back-pedal on his plan to kill innocents and defended his views saying that families, “Know what’s going on,” and that, “being very, very firm with families,” would, “make them think.”

In many ways, Trump fails as an advocate of conservative values, but by supporting polices such as eminent domain for private gain and the murder of innocent people, Trump goes beyond failing conservative values and instead fails American values.

Click Here for Part Three

If you enjoyed this article, you'll be happy to know I've written a whole series on Trump. Click Here to Check them Out. 

II. Trump’s Policies Are Terrible: Part 1

When I talk to conservatives about Trump, I usually find them saying, “I know Trump isn’t perfect, but he’s better than Hillary!” so they support The Donald if that means keeping another Clinton from the White House, but exactly what is it that these people fear? Are they afraid Hillary will finish the job on our mangled healthcare system and move from Obama Care to universal healthcare? Are they afraid Hillary will create a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants thereby creating a giant insurmountable wave of likely new Democrat voters? Are they afraid Hillary will seize our biggest financial institutions by socializing the banks of the United States?

If you’re one of those who thinks Trump is way better than Hillary, I’ve got some bad news for you. Universal healthcare, a pathway to citizenship and socialization of the banks are not just positions of Hillary Clinton. Those are the current positions of Donald Trump. In fact on two of these issues, healthcare and banking, Trump is actually to the left of Hillary Clinton.

Trump spends the vast majority of his time complaining about problems and relatively little time outlining solutions, so trying to tie Trump to specific policy proposals poses a challenge. Despite this difficulty, Trump does occasionally say something concrete enough to consider, and consideration should strike horror in the hearts of anyone who wants the government to have less control over individuals’ lives. 

Some of the following quotes are from years past, but Trump has never renounced any of these positions.

Universal Healthcare

Most people know that Trump wants to replace Obamacare, but few realize he plans on replacing Obamacare with universal healthcare. 

In the August 6th GOP debate, Trump said, “As far as single payer, it works in Canada. It works incredibly well in Scotland. It could have worked in a different age, which is the age you're talking about here,” but a month later Trump apparently decided this is indeed the age for universal healthcare saying, “Obamacare’s going to be repealed and replaced. There’s many different ways, by the way.  Everyone’s got to be covered.” When asked to clarify that he meant universal healthcare, Trump responded, “I am going to take care of everybody…I would make a deal with existing hospitals to take care of people…the government’s gonna pay for it.”  

Amnesty and a Pathway to Citizenship

When you ask people, “What does Trump want to do with illegal immigrants,” the vast majority will respond, “Throw them out!” yet Trump supported a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants as recently as last year. 

In 2012, Trump accused Romney’s illegal immigration policies of being mean-spirited, insane and maniacal even though Romney’s policies were no stricter than Trump’s current proposals.  Around this same time, Trump skeptically questioned the whole idea of deporting illegal immigrants. “I have to tell you on a human basis, how do you throw somebody out that's lived in this country for twenty years?” 

More recently, Trump won praise from some for his harsh criticism of illegal Mexican immigrants, yet he struggled to form an actual coherent immigration policy throughout 2015. Trump made it clear that he wanted to throw out, “bad” illegal immigrants, but for the ones who are only breaking immigration related laws, Trump claimed they needed a pathway to citizenship. “You have to give them a path and you have to make it possible for them to succeed.” Trump later said that illegal immigrants should be forced to return to their home country where they would be given a chance to quickly reenter the U.S. as legal residents. “These could be some great people…I would get them back where they are, and I would try to work out a process where they could come in legally…and if they were really astounding…I’d let ‘em back legally…and I’d make that system much faster, much quicker…I would expedite it.” Eventually, Trump released an immigration plan on his website, and though it does mention, “mandatory return of all criminal aliens” and the end of catch and release at the border, it mysteriously mentions nothing about illegal immigrants who are already living in the United States.

Trump’s current immigration policy is unclear, but there’s no denying that he’s been for amnesty and a pathway to citizenship more recently than Marco Rubio.

Banking

During the aftermath of the financial collapse, Trump suggested the banks might need to be nationalized by the government. “I do agree with what they’re doing with the banks. Whether they fund them or nationalize them, it doesn’t matter, but you have to keep the banks going.” 

There are some who would say that socializing banks is a little socialistic, but that sort of conclusion could only be reached by people who understand the meaning of words. In all seriousness, this is the same policy as is held by the admitted socialist Bernie Sanders.

It’s a little hard to believe the man leading the GOP primary holds some positions so far left that Hillary Clinton would balk at the idea of implementing them, but that’s the sad state of the Republican Party today.
Click Here for Part 2.

If you enjoyed this article, you'll be happy to know I've written a whole series on Trump. Click Here to Check them Out.