Just a few days from the New York primary, the New York Post has released its endorsement in the Republican race: Donald Trump.
Well, except the candidate the Post endorsed doesn't really seem like Trump at all. The Post seems to be betting on President Trump being nothing like the Trump on the campaign trail.
The Post editorial board wrote:
Should he win the nomination, we expect Trump to pivot — not just on the issues, but in his manner. The post-pivot Trump needs to be more presidential: better informed on policy, more self-disciplined and less thin-skinned.
The Post then went on to name some of the policies and rhetoric it expects Trump to change, characterizing these issues as "rookie mistakes" on Trump's part:
No, pulling US troops out of Japan and South Korea — and pushing both countries to go nuclear to defend themselves — is not remotely a good idea. American commitments may need rethinking — but careful rethinking.
Yes, controlling the border is one of Washington’s fundamental duties — but "Build the Wall" is far too simplistic a policy for a nation of immigrants.
By all means, get the best trade deals for America — but remember that trade means cheaper goods for the less well-off, and challenge US industries to improve.
Trump’s language, too, has too often been amateurish, divisive — and downright coarse.
It would be one thing if the Post was just expecting Trump to change on a few issues. But this is expecting Trump to do a 180 from his entire campaign. Trump's campaign launched on the idea of building a big wall at the US-Mexico border. It launched on the idea of using coarse language in a rejection of what Trump calls "political correctness." He has been insistent that the US should stop paying for troops in other countries without getting anything in return, and that he would allow a trade war if other countries didn't bend to his whim on trade.
The Post, for its part, seems to believe Trump will change because he's a "do-er" and "businessman" who "reflects the best of 'New York values.'" But those are pretty vague reasons to expect a candidate to literally change his entire campaign after he wins the Republican nomination.
