Trump Aims for Gravitas After a Disastrous Period for His Campaign

In a speech in New York, he eschewed his usual off-the-cuff remarks in favor of a careful script.


Bucking his preference for off-the-cuff remarks, Donald Trump addressed his supporters as Tuesday’s primary returns came in using a scripted speech that attempted to paint the real estate magnate as a measured politician. The speech comes on the heels of a disastrous two weeks for the presumptive Republican nominee, after he accused the federal judge overseeing his Trump University case of bias against him because of the judge’s “Mexican heritage.”

“I understand the responsibility of carrying the mantle, and I will never ever let you down,” Trump said, speaking from the Trump National Golf Club in Westchester, New York. “I will make you proud of your party and the movement.”

Trump largely focused his speech on continuing his attacks against Hillary Clinton and hinted at a major speech next Monday that would criticize her and her husband. At one point, he said Clinton had “turned the State Department into her private hedge fund”—a charge that prompted applause from the room.

Trump also nodded to Bernie Sanders’ supporters by appealing to their dissatisfaction with the Democratic nomination system, saying that he would welcome Sanders’ base to join his fight against Clinton with “open arms.”

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate