No need for Republican unity: Trump

There may be much Republican hand-wringing over Donald Trump’s presumptive nomination to face the Democratic candidate for the White House, but the boastful billionaire says he doesn’t care, and it doesn’t matter, reports AFP from Washington. A growing chorus of senior Republican leaders have joined the “anyone but Trump movement,” including 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and the last two Republican presidents, George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush. “Does it have to be unified?” Trump asked about the Republican Party. “I’m very different than everybody else, perhaps, that’s ever run for office. I actually don’t think so,” he told ABC’s “This Week” in excerpts provided ahead of Sunday’s broadcast.
“I think it would be better if it were unified, I think it would be—there would be something good about it. But I don’t think it actually has to be unified in the traditional sense.” A group of conservatives opposed to Trump’s candidacy meanwhile announced it had launched a “formal effort” for an alternative candidate, though it stopped short of backing a contender from a third party. “This is not just a fight for the heart and soul of the Republican Party; it is a battle for the future of our country,” Conservatives Against Trump said in a statement. “This week, Conservatives Against Trump launched a formal effort to identify an acceptable alternative candidate to run for president against Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.” The race is still “wide open for a qualified conservative candidate,” the group of activists said. “We will not vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton; but we will vote.”
Trump, however, said he expected even some Democratic voters to throw their support behind him to win the general election.
“I’m going to go out and I’m going to get millions of people from the Democrats,” Trump said.
“I’m going to get Bernie (Sanders) people to vote, because they like me on trade,” he added, referring to the Democratic candidate in an uphill fight against Hillary Clinton to clinch the party’s nomination. Earlier, on Friday Donald Trump said he was surprised by the US House speaker’s refusal to back his bid for the White House and that the two will meet next week. In a stunning declaration, Paul Ryan said Thursday he was not yet ready to support the billionaire, signaling a deep rift within the Republican party. The shock announcement by America’s top elected Republican was expected to reverberate throughout the GOP’s establishment and its rank and file, amid swirling concerns over whether conservatives will rally around Trump in his expected election matchup against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
“I was really surprised by it. And it’s fine. He can do whatever he wants to do. But I was surprised by it,” Trump told the “Fox & Friends” program. The billionaire real estate mogul added that he and Ryan would be meeting next week. “I believe it’s Wednesday,” Trump said of the get-together. When asked what the two would be discussing he added: “I have absolutely no idea.” Ryan was the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2012 and is currently second in line to the presidency. He will be co-chairman of the Republican presidential nominating convention in July. Ryan is the latest in a string of party grandees who have declined to back Trump. Presidents George H.W. Bush and his son George W. Bush have signaled they will not endorse him, while Mitt Romney, the 2012 nominee, is reportedly declining to attend the Republican convention.

No need for Republican unity: Trump

There may be much Republican hand-wringing over Donald Trumps presumptive nomination to face the Democratic candidate for the White House, but the boastful billionaire says he doesnt care, and it doesnt matter, reports AFP from Washington. A growing chorus of senior Republican leaders have joined the anyone but Trump movement, including 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and the last two Republican presidents, George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush. Does it have to be unified? Trump asked about the Republican Party. Im very different than everybody else, perhaps, thats ever run for office. I actually dont think so, he told ABCs This Week in excerpts provided ahead of Sundays broadcast. I think it would be better if it were unified, I think it would bethere would be something good about it. But I dont think it actually has to be unified in the traditional sense. A group of conservatives opposed to Trumps candidacy meanwhile announced it had launched a formal effort for an alternative candidate, though it stopped short of backing a contender from a third party. This is not just a fight for the heart and soul of the Republican Party; it is a battle for the future of our country, Conservatives Against Trump said in a statement. This week, Conservatives Against Trump launched a formal effort to identify an acceptable alternative candidate to run for president against Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The race is still wide open for a qualified conservative candidate, the group of activists said. We will not vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton; but we will vote. Trump, however, said he expected even some Democratic voters to throw their support behind him to win the general election. Im going to go out and Im going to get millions of people from the Democrats, Trump said. Im going to get Bernie (Sanders) people to vote, because they like me on trade, he added, referring to the Democratic candidate in an uphill fight against Hillary Clinton to clinch the partys nomination. Earlier, on Friday Donald Trump said he was surprised by the US House speakers refusal to back his bid for the White House and that the two will meet next week. In a stunning declaration, Paul Ryan said Thursday he was not yet ready to support the billionaire, signaling a deep rift within the Republican party. The shock announcement by Americas top elected Republican was expected to reverberate throughout the GOPs establishment and its rank and file, amid swirling concerns over whether conservatives will rally around Trump in his expected election matchup against Democrat Hillary Clinton. I was really surprised by it. And its fine. He can do whatever he wants to do. But I was surprised by it, Trump told the Fox Friends program. The billionaire real estate mogul added that he and Ryan would be meeting next week. I believe its Wednesday, Trump said of the get-together. When asked what the two would be discussing he added: I have absolutely no idea. Ryan was the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2012 and is currently second in line to the presidency. He will be co-chairman of the Republican presidential nominating convention in July. Ryan is the latest in a string of party grandees who have declined to back Trump. Presidents George H.W. Bush and his son George W. Bush have signaled they will not endorse him, while Mitt Romney, the 2012 nominee, is reportedly declining to attend the Republican convention.