Subject: DAILY UPDATE - 5/4/16
From: "Sullivan, Erin" <[email-masked]>
To: "Sullivan, Erin" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 4 May 2016 10:41:47 -0700

2016 DAILY UPDATE - 05/04/16

TED CRUZ

DONALD TRUMP

TED CRUZ

Ted Cruz Called Donald Trump A Pathological Liar And A Narcissist. CRUZ: "I'm going to tell you what I really think of Donald Trump. This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth. And in a pattern that I think is straight out of a psychology textbook, his response is to accuse everybody else of lying. He accuses everybody on that debate stage of lying. And it's simply a mindless yell. Whatever he does, he accuses everyone else of doing. The man cannot tell the truth, but he combines it with being a narcissist. A narcissist at a level I don't think this country has ever seen. Donald Trump is such a narcissist that Barack Obama looks at him and goes, dude, what's your problem? Everything in Donald's world is about Donald. And he combines being a pathological liar, and I say pathological because I actually think Donald, if you hooked him up to a lie detector test, he could say one thing in the morning, one thing at noon and one thing in the evening, all contradictory and he'd pass the lie detector test each time. Whatever lie he's telling, at that minute he believes it." [Ted Cruz Remarks, Press Gaggle, Evansville IN, 5/3/16]

Ted Cruz On Trump:  "The Man Is Utterly Amoral...  Morality Does Not Exist For Him."  CRUZ: "The man is utterly amoral." QUESTION: "Senator - "  CRUZ: "Let me finish this, please. The man is utterly amoral. Morality does not exist for him.  It's why he went after Heidi directly and smeared my wife, attacked her. Apparently she's not pretty enough for Donald Trump. I may be biased, but I think if he's making that allegation, he's also legally blind. But Donald is a bully. You know, we just visited with fifth graders. Every one of us knew bullies in elementary school. Bullies don't come from strength, bullies come from weakness. Bullies come from a deep, yawning cavern of insecurity. There is a reason Donald builds giant buildings and puts his name on them everywhere he goes." [Ted Cruz Remarks, Press Gaggle, Evansville IN, 5/3/16]

Ted Cruz:  Trump "Is Lying To His Supporters" And Will "Betray Them." CRUZ: "And I will say there are millions of people in this country who are angry. They're angry at Washington, they're angry at politicians who have lied to them. I understand that anger. I share that anger. And Donald is cynically exploiting that anger, and he is lying to his supporters. Donald will betray his supporters on every issue. If you care about immigration, Donald is laughing at you. And he's telling the moneyed elites he doesn't believe what he's saying. He's not going to build a wall. That's what he told 'The New York Times.' He will betray you on ever you issue across the board. And his strategy of being a bully in particular is directed at women. Donald has a real problem with women. People who are insecure, people who are insecure about who they are." [Ted Cruz Remarks, Press Gaggle, Evansville IN, 5/3/16]

Ted Cruz: "Donald Has A Real Problem With Women... People Who Are Insecure, People Who Are Insecure About Who They Are, Donald Is Terrified By Strong Women." CRUZ: "His strategy of being a bully in particular is directed at women. Donald has a real problem with women. People who are insecure, people who are insecure about who they are, Donald is terrified by strong women. He lashes out at them." [Ted Cruz Remarks, Press Gaggle, Evansville IN, 5/3/16]

Ted Cruz Attacked Donald Trump For Touting The Endorsement Of Mike Tyson, A Convicted Rapist. CRUZ: "Remember this is the same Donald Trump who last week here in Indiana proudly touted the endorsement from Mike Tyson, a convicted rapist, who served three years in prison here in Indiana for raping a 17 year old girl. In Donald's world he said, 'Mike Tyson was a tough guy.' I don't think rapists are tough guys. I spent a lot of years in law enforcement dealing with rapists. Rapists are weak, they are cowards and they're bullies. Anyone that thinks they're a tough guy that reveals everything about Donald Trump's character." [Ted Cruz Remarks, Press Gaggle, Evansville IN, 5/3/16]

Ted Cruz: "Donald Trump Said Bill Clinton Was Targeted By Unattractive Women." [Ted Cruz Remarks, Press Gaggle, Evansville IN, 5/3/16]

Ted Cruz: "Donald Trump Is A Serial Philanderer And He Boasts About It." CRUZ: "Listen, Donald Trump is a serial philanderer and he boasts about it. This is not a secret. He's proud of being a serial philanderer. I want everyone to think about your teenage kids. The President of the United States talks about how great it is to commit adultery, how proud he is, describes his battles with venereal disease as his own personal Vietnam. That's a quote by the way on the Howard Stern show. Do you want to spend the next five years with your kids bragging about infidelity?" [Ted Cruz Remarks, Press Gaggle, Evansville IN, 5/3/16]

Ted Cruz On Donald Trump: "I'll Tell You As The Father Of Two Young Girls, The Idea Of Our Daughters Coming Home And Repeating Any Word That Man Says Horrifies Me." CRUZ: "I'll tell you as the father of two young girls, the idea of our daughters coming home and repeating any word that man says horrifies me. That is not who America is." [Ted Cruz Remarks, Press Gaggle, Evansville IN, 5/3/16]

Ted Cruz: "Donald Trump Said He'd Never Asked God For Forgiveness For Anything." CRUZ: "You want to understand Donald Trump, look no further than the interview he did a few months ago in Iowa where he was asked a very simple question, 'When's the last time you asked God for forgiveness?' Donald Trump said he'd never asked God for forgiveness for anything. I want you to think about that. What does that say about a person? I've asked God for forgiveness three times today. Think about your children. Do you want your children coming home and saying, 'Mommy, I don't need to ask God for forgiveness for anything. Why? Because Donald Trump doesn't and if he doesn't, and everyone likes him, all the media praises him, I don't need to either.'" [Ted Cruz Remarks, Press Gaggle, Evansville IN, 5/3/16]

HEADLINE: "Ted Cruz Ends His Bid For Republican Presidential Nomination." [Associated Press, 5/4/16<http://bigstory.ap.org/article/6163caa2d0c6493c8574e3d0b2b5fd9e/ted-cruz-ends-his-bid-republican-presidential-nomination>]

5/3/16: Ted Cruz Ended His 2016 Presidential Campaign. "Texas Sen. Ted Cruz ended his presidential campaign Tuesday, eliminating the biggest impediment to Donald Trump's march to the Republican nomination. The conservative tea party firebrand who cast himself as the only viable alternative to Trump announced his exit after a stinging defeat in Indiana's Republican primary. 'It appears that path has been foreclosed,' Cruz told supporters in Indianapolis. 'Together, we left it all on the field of Indiana. We gave it everything we've got, but the voters chose another path, and so with a heavy heart but with boundless optimism for the long-term future of our nation, we are suspending our campaign.' Cruz had already been mathematically eliminated from clinching the delegate majority in the state-by-state primary process, but hoped to force a contested national convention in July. That possibility ends Tuesday with the Texas senator's announcement." [Associated Press, 5/4/16<http://bigstory.ap.org/article/6163caa2d0c6493c8574e3d0b2b5fd9e/ted-cruz-ends-his-bid-republican-presidential-nomination>]

HEADLINE: "Ted Cruz Suspends His Campaign For President." [New York Times, 5/3/16<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/04/us/politics/ted-cruz.html?_r=0>]

Ted Cruz Lost The Indiana Republican Primary. "Texas senator Ted Cruz is suspending his presidential campaign for the Republican nomination following his loss to Donald Trump in the Indiana Republican primary, Cruz announced at a rally tonight in Indianapolis. 'Together we left it all in the field in Indiana, we gave it everything we got,' he said. 'So with a heavy a heart, but with boundless optimism, for the long term future of our nation, we are suspending our campaign,' Cruz told supporters. Several Cruz staffers were crying before Cruz took the stage and his family appeared visibly emotional alongside Cruz as he made his announcement. 'From the beginning I said I would continue on, as long as there was a viable path,' Cruz said. 'Tonight, I'm sorry to say, it appears that path has been foreclosed.'" [New York Times, 5/3/16<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/04/us/politics/ted-cruz.html?_r=0>]

HEADLINE: "Ted Cruz Elbowed His Wife In The Face After He Quit The Presidential Race." [BuzzFeed, 5/3/16<https://www.buzzfeed.com/maryanngeorgantopoulos/ted-cruz-elbows-wife-in-teh-face-during-consession-speech?utm_term=.yfA7akxB9#.rm6makjG0>]

HEADLINE: "Trump Accuses Cruz's Father Of Helping JFK's Assassin." [Politico, 5/3/16<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/trump-ted-cruz-father-222730>]

Donald Trump Alleged That Rafael Cruz, Was With John F. Kennedy's Assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, Before He Killed Him. "Donald Trump on Tuesday alleged that Ted Cruz's father was with John F. Kennedy's assassin shortly before he murdered the president, parroting a National Enquirer story claiming that Rafael Cruz was pictured with Lee Harvey Oswald handing out pro-Fidel Castro pamphlets in New Orleans in 1963. A Cruz campaign spokesperson told the Miami Herald, which pointed out numerous flaws in the Enquirer story, that it was 'another garbage story in a tabloid full of garbage.' 'His father was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswald's being - you know, shot. I mean, the whole thing is ridiculous,' Trump said Tuesday during a phone interview with Fox News. 'What is this, right prior to his being shot, and nobody even brings it up. They don't even talk about that. That was reported, and nobody talks about it.' 'I mean, what was he doing - what was he doing with Lee Harvey Oswald shortly before the death? Before the shooting?' Trump continued. 'It's horrible.'" [Politico, 5/3/16<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/trump-ted-cruz-father-222730>]

HEADLINE: "Trump Links Cruz's Father To JFK Assassin, Channeling National Enquirer." [Miami Herald, 4/22/16<http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article73449297.html>]

HEADLINE: "Donald Trump's Pants On Fire Claim Linking Ted Cruz's Father And JFK Assassination." [Politifact, 5/3/16<http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/may/03/donald-trump/donald-trumps-ridiculous-claim-linking-ted-cruzs-f/>]

Politifact Gave Donald Trump's Claim That Rafael Cruz Was Involved With Lee Harvey Oswald Before John F. Kennedy's Assassination A "Pants On Fire." "Trump said that Rafael Cruz 'was with Lee Harvey Oswald' before the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The sole 'evidence' for this claim is a grainy photograph that shows Oswald with a man who may bear a resemblance to Cruz. But experts tell PolitiFact that the image is too degraded to offer much confidence. At the same time, multiple experts about the world of early 1960s pro-Castro advocacy said they have never seen evidence of Cruz associating with Oswald and consider Trump's claim implausible at best and ridiculous at worst. We rate the claim Pants on Fire." [Politifact, 5/3/16<http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/may/03/donald-trump/donald-trumps-ridiculous-claim-linking-ted-cruzs-f/>]

Rafael Cruz: "I Implore, I Exhort Every Member Of The Body Of Christ To Vote According To The Word Of God And Vote For The Candidate That Stands On The Word Of God And On The Constitution Of The United States Of America." "Trump's tangent followed his rebuke of Rafael Cruz using the pulpit to court evangelicals for his son. 'I implore, I exhort every member of the body of Christ to vote according to the word of God and vote for the candidate that stands on the word of God and on the Constitution of the United States of America,' Rafael Cruz said in a video clip aired by Fox News. 'And I am convinced that man is my son, Ted Cruz. The alternative could be the destruction of America.' Asked to respond, Trump called it a disgrace. 'I think it's a disgrace that he's allowed to do it. I think it's a disgrace that he's allowed to say it,' he said, before touting his support from Jerry Falwell Jr. and other evangelical leaders. 'You look at so many of the ministers that are backing me, and they're backing me more so than they're backing Cruz, and I'm winning the evangelical vote,' Trump continued. 'It's disgraceful that his father can go out and do that. And just - and so many people are angry about it. And the evangelicals are angry about it, the way he does that.' 'But I think it's horrible,' he added. 'I think it's absolutely horrible that a man can go and do that, what he's saying there.'" [Politico, 5/3/16<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/trump-ted-cruz-father-222730>]

HEADLINE: "Why Rubio Hasn't Endorsed Cruz." [Politico, 5/2/16<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/ted-cruz-marco-rubio-endorsement-222686>]

SUBHEADLINE: "The Florida Senator Hopes To Thwart Trump While Protecting His Own Political Future." [Politico, 5/2/16<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/ted-cruz-marco-rubio-endorsement-222686>]

Marco Rubio Did Not Formally Endorse Cruz. "Marco Rubio won't be endorsing Ted Cruz during the Republican presidential primary, but he's likely to back the Texas senator at a contested convention - if it gets that far. The de facto plan, Rubio's backers say, is designed to help Cruz. It also, however, protects Rubio's political future, including if he decides to make another run for the White House. Immediately after Rubio dropped out of the presidential contest following his home state loss March 15, the Florida senator told supporters he would endorse Cruz under two conditions: if the Texas senator wanted the endorsement and if it would make a difference. But Rubio came to believe that neither Cruz nor he would really gain from an endorsement so far. 'At this point, No. 1, it's not a year where endorsements matter very much,' Rubio told POLITICO. 'And No. 2: I'll just let it play itself out and work through it. I really want to come back and focus 100 percent on my work in the Senate.'" [Politico, 5/2/16<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/ted-cruz-marco-rubio-endorsement-222686>]

Marco Rubio Allowed Cruz To Rent His Fundraising List And Called Cruz The Only Conservative Left In The Race. "Rubio has already helped Cruz by renting him his fundraising list, calling him 'the only conservative left in the race,' withdrawing his name from the primary ballot in select states so as not to siphon votes from Cruz and petitioning to hang on to some of the 171 delegates he won to keep them from going to Donald Trump." [Politico, 5/2/16<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/ted-cruz-marco-rubio-endorsement-222686>]

A Source Close To Marco Rubio Said He Did Not Want To Endorse Cruz And Let Cruz Use The Endorsement Against Him If They Run For President Again. "'Marco wants Donald to lose. If he thought his endorsement would help in California or in Indiana, which it won't, then he would probably do it,' the source said. 'But what Marco isn't going to do is just endorse Ted, watch Trump win anyway and then, in four years, watch Cruz use Marco's endorsement against him if they both run for president again,' the source said." [Politico, 5/2/16<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/ted-cruz-marco-rubio-endorsement-222686>]

HEADLINE: "In Indiana, Cruz Mocks Trump's 'Battles With Venereal Disease'". [Texas Tribune, 5/3/16<https://www.texastribune.org/2016/05/03/bracing-indiana-loss-cruz-unloads-trump/>]

New York Times' Alex Burns: "Looks Like Cruz-Fiorina Would Have Less Experience In Elected Office Than Any Ticket In 80 Years - Since Landon-Knox In 1936." [@AlexBurnsNYT, Twitter, 4/27/16<https://twitter.com/alexburnsNYT/status/725425863823622145>]

HEADLINE: "Cruz Backer Calls Trump 'Hillary Clinton With A Penis'". [Washington Examiner, 5/3/16<http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2590218/>]

Ted Cruz Surrogate Steve Lonegan Referred To Donald Trump As "Hillary Clinton With A Penis." "A surrogate for Sen. Ted Cruz's campaign said Tuesday that he doesn't believe conservatives are willing to hand over the nomination to Donald Trump, calling him 'Hillary Clinton with a penis.' Steve Lonegan, who serves as Cruz's New Jersey chairman, told CNN Tuesday that Cruz will 'outperform expectations' Tuesday night in the Indiana primary. 'Ted Cruz will do very well tonight,' Lonegan told host Kate Bolduan. 'He will outperform expectations like he always does. I don't believe the conservative base of this party is ready to throw everything over to Donald Trump.' 'In essence, we're not going to nominate Hillary Clinton with a penis,' Lonegan said." [Washington Examiner, 5/3/16<http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2590218/>]

Bloomberg: "Ted Cruz Rose In The Presidential Race By Painting Republican Leaders As Sellouts And Insisting Only He Had The Courage To Fight A Broken System." "Ted Cruz rose in the presidential race by painting Republican leaders as sellouts and insisting only he had the courage to fight a broken system. Those same elites returned the favor by snubbing him when it mattered most, refusing to rally the party behind him and all but ensuring that Donald Trump will be the nominee after winning Indiana. 'What goes around comes around in politics,' said Ron Bonjean, a former senior aide to several congressional Republican leaders. 'It's very clear he's dug his own grave. And he'll have to live with that. By taking a flamethrower to the Senate floor he ended up burning himself in the process.'" [Bloomberg, 5/3/16<http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-05-03/ted-cruz-s-rise-and-fall-is-explained-by-a-cruel-paradox>]

Bloomberg: "Cruz Himself Played Nice With Trump Early In The Race, Which Some Republicans Believe Was A Strategic Blunder." "Cruz himself played nice with Trump early in the race, which some Republicans believe was a strategic blunder. He met and posed with Trump at Trump Tower in July; he appeared with him at a rally in Washington; in December he praised Trump as 'terrific.' The niceties ended in early January when Trump, polling strong nationally and hoping to leapfrog Cruz in Iowa, questioned whether Cruz's birth in Canada makes him eligible to be president. 'Damned if he doesn't wake up every morning and say 'God, why did I kiss this guy's ass for a year?' I thought it was terrible political judgment,' said Rick Wilson, a Florida-based GOP strategist who has vowed never to support Trump. 'I know it matters to a lot of the donor community' that Cruz didn't take him on at the time, he added." [Bloomberg, 5/3/16<http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-05-03/ted-cruz-s-rise-and-fall-is-explained-by-a-cruel-paradox>]

HEADLINE: "Cruz's Local Campaign Chair: Trump 'Won't Have My Vote'". [Seattle Times, 5/3/16<http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/cruz-plans-washington-campaign-rallies-this-week/>]

Ted Cruz's Washington Campaign Chairman, Saul Gamoran Said That He Could Not Support Donald Trump. "The end of Cruz's campaign came as a shock to Saul Gamoran, Cruz's Washington campaign chair. 'I had no idea,' he said in a text message to a reporter as Cruz announced his withdrawal barely an hour after the campaign had insisted its Washington events would go on. In an interview, Gamoran said it appeared that Trump's recent sweep of five northeastern primaries had created 'an air of inevitability' around the billionaire that carried into Indiana's win Tuesday. 'I am proud of the fact the campaign pulled out all the stops and did everything they could to break that narrative, and proud the campaign showed a clear choice,' said Gamoran, a Mercer Island attorney. Cruz will remain on the primary ballot in Washington. But the results will be moot, Gamoran said. Gamoran said he doesn't know how he'll mark his own ballot in November. But, he said, 'I could not support Donald Trump, because he doesn't represent my values, and I don't think he represents the best in who we are as Americans. He won't have my vote.'" [Seattle Times, 5/3/16<http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/cruz-plans-washington-campaign-rallies-this-week/>]

HEADLINE: "Cruz For President Launches Indiana Election Day Web Ad." [Press Release, Ted Cruz for President, 5/3/16<https://www.tedcruz.org/news/cruz-president-launches-indiana-election-day-web-ad/>]

5/3/16: Ted Cruz's Campaign Launched A Web Ad "Choose Cruz In Indiana." "Today, the Cruz for President campaign launched a new web video, '#ChooseCruz in Indiana!' The video highlights Indiana Governor Mike Pence, Vice Presidential nominee Carly Fiorina, Heidi Cruz, and Ted Cruz on the trail throughout the Hoosier state as they speak to hundreds of enthusiastic supporters who have coalesced around the message of jobs, freedom, and security." [Press Release, Ted Cruz for President, 5/3/16<https://www.tedcruz.org/news/cruz-president-launches-indiana-election-day-web-ad/>]

HEADLINE: "Ted Cruz Was 'Policy Board Chairman' Of THIS Hispanic Group In 2008; Why Is It SCRUBBED From Internet?" [BIZPAC Review, 4/20/16<http://www.bizpacreview.com/2016/04/20/ted-cruz-was-policy-board-chairman-of-this-hispanic-group-in-2008-why-are-they-scrubbed-from-the-internet-331294>]

HEADLINE: "Cruz Plays The Delegate Game In A Virginia District." [National Journal, 4/16/16<https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/622575/cruz-plays-delegate-game-virginia-district>]

DONALD TRUMP

HEADLINE: "Trump Virtually Clinches Republican Presidential Nomination." [Associated Press, 5/4/16<http://bigstory.ap.org/article/211716a292a245498827f5fa7fac070b/ted-cruz-desperately-seeks-stop-donald-trump-indiana>]

5/4/16: Trump Had At Least 1,047 Republican Delegates. "Trump still needs about 200 delegates to formally secure the nomination, but Cruz's decision to end his campaign removed his last major obstacle... Trump now has at least 1,047 delegates. Cruz exits the race with 565, while Kasich has 152." [Associated Press, 5/4/16<http://bigstory.ap.org/article/211716a292a245498827f5fa7fac070b/ted-cruz-desperately-seeks-stop-donald-trump-indiana>]

Trump: "The Hispanics Have Been So Incredible To Me. They Want Jobs. Everybody Wants Jobs. The African-Americans Want Jobs." TRUMP: "We're going to have unbelievably great relationships with the Hispanics. The Hispanics have been so incredible to me. They want jobs. Everybody wants jobs. The African-Americans want jobs. You look at what's going on, they want jobs. And we're going to bring back our jobs and we're going to save our jobs and people are going to have great jobs again. And this country, which is very, very divided in so many different ways is going to become one beautiful loving country. And we're going to love each other, we're going to cherish each other, we're going to take care of each other. And we're going to have great economic development. And we're not going to let other countries take it away from us, because that's what's been happening for far too many years and we're not going to do it anymore. We're not going to do it anymore." [Election Night Speech, New York NY, 5/3/16] [15:00]

Trump, In Thanking His Campaign Staff, Named His Son-In-Law Jared Kushner. TRUMP: "I also want to thank my staff, Paul, Corey, Hope. I mean, these people, what we've been doing has been incredible. The work has been unreal. And Jared married to my daughter Ivanka, I mean honestly you know Jared. Jared is a very successful real estate person, but I actually think he likes politics more than he likes real estate I'm excited, I mean he's very good at politics." [Election Night Speech, New York NY, 5/3/16]

Trump: "Actually, I Don't Shoot From The Hip." QUESTION: "Women voters see you shoot from the hip in a way that makes them nervous." TRUMP: "Actually I don't shoot from the hip." QUESTION: "No?" TRUMP: "Actually, I don't shoot from the hip." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16] [11:40]

HEADLINE: "Melania Trump: From Professional Pretty Person To Potential First Lady." [Washington Post, 5/3/16<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/05/03/melania-trump-does-her-version-of-a-model-first-lady/?postshare=2361462303885513&tid=ss_tw>]

Trump: "I Thought The Republican Convention Last Time, Which Was One Of The Least-Watched Conventions In The History Of Conventions, Was Very Boring." "He said Monday that the Republican National Convention must become more like 'The Apprentice' if it's going to keep up with him. 'I thought the Republican convention last time, which was one of the least-watched conventions in the history of conventions, was very boring,' he said of the 2012 event held in Tampa, Florida. 'It was - there was no excitement. It was visually poor.'"  [Daily Mail, 5/3/16<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3571665/Trump-says-ll-droning-terrorists-hold-press-conferences-tell-jokes-roast-rivals-spice-boring-GOP-convention-promises-not-tear-Michelle-Obama-s-garden-practice-golf-swing.html>]

Foreign Policy

Trump Said He Would Continue The Use Of Drone Warfare "To Take Out Terrorists." "He said he was reluctant to talk about military strategy, citing a need to remain 'unpredictable,' but agreed that using drone warfare to clear the ISIS terror army from the Middle East is a tactic he would continue as president. 'I have to do what's right. I will do what's right. As far as drones are concerned, yes. To take out terrorists,' he said. 'But the only thing is, I want them to get it right. But to take out terrorists, yes, I would think that that is something I would continue to do.' 'As far as beyond that, I don't want to talk about it,' Trump cautioned, 'because I do want to be unpredictable in a sense. I don't want the enemy to know exactly where I'm coming from.'" [Daily Mail, 5/3/16<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3571665/Trump-says-ll-droning-terrorists-hold-press-conferences-tell-jokes-roast-rivals-spice-boring-GOP-convention-promises-not-tear-Michelle-Obama-s-garden-practice-golf-swing.html>]

Trump: "I Don't Think There Should Be A Pause" On New Israeli Settlements In The West Bank: "They Really Have To Keep Going. They Have To Keep Moving Forward." "Donald Trump came down foursquare in favor of new construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank on Monday, telling Dailymail.com that the controversial practice has to 'keep going' and 'keep moving forward.' There are 'thousands of missiles being launched into Israel,' he said Monday. 'Who would put up with that? Who would stand for it?' Trump said last year he would like to initially remain 'neutral' in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as president, a position that he believes would allow him a better opportunity to be seen as a peace broker. Meanwhile he has repeatedly expressed his love for Israel and increasingly his support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his policies, all while repeatedly trashing the Barack Obama-backed Iran nuclear deal. But in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Trump came out for the continued construction of new settlements irrespective of Israeli government policy. Asked whether there should be a pause in new construction - which the Obama administration has pressured Netanyahu's government to observe in order to bring the Palestinians to the negotiating table - Trump responded: 'No, I don't think it is, because I think Israel should have - they really have to keep going. They have to keep moving forward.' 'No, I don't think there should be a pause,' Trump said. 'Look: Missiles were launched into Israel, and Israel, I think, never was properly treated by our country. I mean, do you know what that is, how devastating that is?' 'With all of that being said, I would love to see if peace could be negotiated. A lot of people say that's not a deal that's possible. But I mean lasting peace, not a peace that lasts for two weeks and they start launching missiles again. So we'll see what happens,' Trump added. 'I'd love to negotiate peace. I think that, to me, is the all-time negotiation,' Trump said, in reference to stalled peace talks - which Palestinian negotiators say won't occur without a halt in new construction." [Daily Mail, 5/3/16<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3571403/Trump-insists-Israel-building-West-Bank-settlements-says-Netanyahu-moving-forward-Palestinians-fired-thousands-missiles-Jewish-state.html>]

Trump Criticized Obama For Weighing In On Britain's European Union Referendum: "I Thought He Should Have Remained Somewhat More Neutral." "Donald Trump criticized President Barack Obama on Monday for weighing in on the 'Brexit' controversy and saying British subjects should vote on June 23 to remain in the European Union. 'I didn't think it was a good thing for him to do it,' Trump told DailyMail.com. The Republican presidential front-runner said in a wide-ranging interview that Obama should have remained 'more neutral' as president, and that he wouldn't be offering the U.K. his opinion as the date of the referendum approaches. 'I would say that I'm not going to give Britain any advice, but I know there are a lot of people that are very, very much against being in the EU,' he said... A cautious but deliberate Trump told DailyMail.com of Obama's intervention that 'I didn't think it was a good thing for him to do it.' 'I thought he should have remained somewhat more neutral. But it's fine. He decided to do it. I'd rather remain a little bit neutral.' 'I don't like to interject myself into that discussion,' Trump explained. 'I would say this, that I think the migration is a sad thing for Europe.'" [Daily Mail, 5/3/16<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3570178/Trump-says-Obama-shouldn-t-taken-sides-Brexit-vote-pledges-won-t-Britain-advice-staying-EU.html>]

Trump: "'I Would Say That I'm Not Going To Give Britain Any Advice, But I Know There Are A Lot Of People That Are Very, Very Much Against Being In The EU." "Donald Trump criticized President Barack Obama on Monday for weighing in on the 'Brexit' controversy and saying British subjects should vote on June 23 to remain in the European Union. 'I didn't think it was a good thing for him to do it,' Trump told DailyMail.com. The Republican presidential front-runner said in a wide-ranging interview that Obama should have remained 'more neutral' as president, and that he wouldn't be offering the U.K. his opinion as the date of the referendum approaches. 'I would say that I'm not going to give Britain any advice, but I know there are a lot of people that are very, very much against being in the EU,' he said. Still, Trump showed plenty of leg in the interview, casting Europe as a simmering cauldron of immigration bitterness and resentment, nearing a spilling point in the UK and other nations whose once robust borders are now open to the rest of the continent's people." [Daily Mail, 5/3/16<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3570178/Trump-says-Obama-shouldn-t-taken-sides-Brexit-vote-pledges-won-t-Britain-advice-staying-EU.html>]

Party Unity

Trump: "The Party Will Come Together. I Don't Think It's Imperative The Entire Party Come Together. I Don't Want Everybody. I Don't Even Want Certain People That Were Extraordinarily Nasty-- Let Them Go Their Own Way. Let Them Wait Eight Years Or 16 Years." TRUMP: "First of all, Ed Rollins, and others, have been so tremendous. We talk about the negatives, the Krauthammers, who are people-- they have real problems, or George Will, that nobody reads or listens to. But I'll tell you, I've had such incredible support. I'm going to be making a decision over the next week. The question is, I do love self-funding. And  I don't want anything for myself. But we do need money for the party. The party will come together. I don't think it's imperative the entire party come together. I don't want everybody. I don't even want certain people that were extraordinarily nasty-- let them go their own way. Let them wait eight years or 16 years. I think we're going to have a great success against probably Hillary because the system is totally rigged against Bernie, I mean, totally rigged against him. So probably we're going to have Hillary. And I will make a decision fairly soon as to that. I mean, do I want to sell a couple of buildings and self-fund? I don't know that I want to do that necessarily, but I really won't be asking for money for myself, I'll be asking money for the party. Really, it's something we're going to start on right away. I got a call last night from Reince Priebus. It's something that now that we're in this position, we're going to start on now." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16]

Trump Said He Was Confident He Could Unite "Much Of" The Republican Party: "Some Of It, I Don't Want. There Were Statements Made About Me That Those People Can Go Away And Maybe Come Back In Eight Years, After We Serve Two Terms. But Honestly, There Are Some People I Really Don't Want." QUESTION: "Are you fully confident, Mr. Trump, you can unite the Republican Party behind you?" TRUMP: "I am confident that I can unite much of it. Some of it, I don't want. There were statements made about me that those people can go away and maybe come back in eight years, after we serve two terms. But honestly, there are some people I really don't want. I don't think it is necessary. People will be voting for me, not the party, and I think we'll do well against Hillary. She is a disaster, and she will be a disastrous president." [Today, NBC, 5/4/16]

Trump: "I Don't Think It Is Necessary" To Fully Unite The Republican Party Because "People Will Be Voting For Me, Not The Party." QUESTION: "Are you fully confident, Mr. Trump, you can unite the Republican Party behind you?" TRUMP: "I am confident that I can unite much of it. Some of it, I don't want. There were statements made about me that those people can go away and maybe come back in eight years, after we serve two terms. But honestly, there are some people I really don't want. I don't think it is necessary. People will be voting for me, not the party, and I think we'll do well against Hillary. She is a disaster, and she will be a disastrous president." [Today, NBC, 5/4/16]

Republican Grief

HEADLINE: "'I Feel Like I Got Smacked By A 2x4': Va. Republicans React To Trump As The Likely Nominee." [Washington Post, 5/4/16<https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/i-feel-like-i-got-smacked-by-a-2x4-va-republicans-react-to-trump-as-the-likely-nominee/2016/05/04/9a6cb932-11f5-11e6-93ae-50921721165d_story.html?tid=sm_tw>]

HEADLINE: "Republicans Are Burning Their Voter Registration Cards After Trump Becomes Likely Nominee." [BuzzFeed, 5/3/16<https://www.buzzfeed.com/salvadorhernandez/republicans-are-burning-their-voter-registration-cards-after?utm_term=.ql6LoQLXld#.ogVpqmp0r2>]

HEADLINE: "Republicans Consider Clinton Over Trump." [Politico, 5/4/16<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/republicans-clinton-trump-indiana-222778?lo=ap_a1>]

HEADLINE: "The Trump Freakout Goes To 11." [Politico, 5/4/16<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/donald-trump-republican-nominee-transition-222785>]

Several Establishment Republicans Said They Would Rather Vote For Hillary Clinton Than Donald Trump. "Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert balked at backing Trump on Wednesday without an apology for his rhetoric toward Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and warned that Trump could cost Republicans a majority in Congress. 'I had no fear of losing the House until I saw this weekend the commercial against Sen. John Bozeman in Arkansas. They run quote after quote from Donald Trump's mouth,' Gohmert told Fox Business Network. 'This is a dangerous time.' Leon Wolf, managing editor of the conservative blog RedState, wrote Wednesday that 'Republicans must know that there is absolutely no chance that we will win the White House in 2016 now.' They added to the chorus of voices that emerged Tuesday night after Trump knocked Cruz out of the race with a blowout in Indiana, setting off a fresh round of hand-wringing. Some in the anti-Trump movement refused to put down their arms, and a few establishment Republicans even said they would rather vote for Hillary Clinton than back Trump." [Politico, 5/4/16<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/donald-trump-republican-nominee-transition-222785>]

HEADLINE: "Trump Nomination Divides Republicans." [BBC, 5/4/16<http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-36205223>]

Former McCain Senior Adviser Mark Salter Said He Would Support Hillary Clinton Over "A Guy Who Reads The National Enquirer And Thinks It's On The Level." MARK SALTER: "The GOP is going to nominate for President a guy who reads the National Enquirer and thinks it's on the level. I'm with her." [@MarkSalter55, Twitter, 5/3/16<https://twitter.com/MarkSalter55/status/727500491962339328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>]

Lindsey Graham: "If We Nominate Trump, We Will Get Destroyed.......And We Will Deserve It." [@LindseyGrahamSC, Twitter, 5/3/16<https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/727604522156228608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>]

Susan Collins: Trump Is "Going To Have Stop With Gratuitous Personal Insults." COLLINS: "Donald Trump has the opportunity to unite the party, but if he's going to build that wall that he keeps talking about, he's going to have to mend a lot of fences. He's going to have stop with gratuitous personal insults." [BuzzFeed, 5/4/16<https://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/susan-collins-ill-be-able-to-back-trump-if-he-stops-the-grat?utm_term=.beBjmNjne1#.xjwjmEjRox>; News Radio WGAN AM 560, 5/4/16]

HEADLINE: "It's Donald Trump's Party Now." [Editorial, New York Times, 5/3/16<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/04/opinion/its-donald-trumps-party-now.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=0>]

New York Times: "Republicans Will All But Certainly Nominate Mr. Trump, Who Would Be The Most Volatile And Least Prepared Presidential Candidate Nominated By A Major Party In Modern Times. A Man Once Ridiculed By Many Prominent Republicans Will Become The G.O.P. Standard-Bearer." "Republicans will all but certainly nominate Mr. Trump, who would be the most volatile and least prepared presidential candidate nominated by a major party in modern times. A man once ridiculed by many prominent Republicans will become the G.O.P. standard-bearer. This is a moment of reckoning for the Republican Party. It's incumbent on its leadership to account for the failures and betrayals that led to this, and find a better way to address them than the demagogy on offer. Republicans haven't yet begun to grapple with this. Instead they're falling into line." [Editorial, New York Times, 5/3/16<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/04/opinion/its-donald-trumps-party-now.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=0>]

Elizabeth Warren: "There's More Enthusiasm For @RealDonaldTrump Among Leaders Of The KKK Than Leaders Of The Political Party He Now Controls." [@elizabethforma, Twitter, 5/3/16<https://twitter.com/elizabethforma/status/727691096244031492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>]

REPUBLICAN SUPPORT

HEADLINE: "Ayotte Will Back Trump In General Election." [The Hill, 5/4/16<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/278652-ayotte-will-back-trump-in-general-election>]

Newt Gingrich: "Donald Trump May Turn Out To Be The Most Effective Anti-Left Leader In Our Lifetime." GINGRICH: "First of all, Donald Trump may turn out to be the most effective anti-left leader in our lifetime. He is against political correctness. He is against bureaucracy. He places American nationalism first which I think we desperately need. I'm tired of being told we have to have phony agreements and phony efforts." [Hannity, Fox News, 5/3/16]

Republican Florida Senate Candidate Carolos Beruff Called On The Republican Party To Unite Behind Trump. "Carlos Beruff - a conservative and one of the several Republicans, including Reps. Ron DeSantis and David Jolly, seeking the Florida Republican nomination for U.S. Senate - called on his party to embrace Trump in order to beat Democrat Hillary Clinton in November. 'Donald Trump is the nominee of our party, and I am committed to voting for him and supporting him so that we can take our country back from the liberal policies of Obama and Clinton,' said Beruff, a wealthy Sunshine State businessman. 'Like Governor Rick Scott, I urge all Republicans to unite behind Trump and I urge my opponents to commit to supporting him as the Republican nominee.'" [Morning Consult, 5/4/16<https://morningconsult.com/alert/florida-republican-embraces-trump/>]

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee: "I Will Be All In To Help [Donald Trump] Defeat Hillary Clinton And I Call Upon All Fellow Republicans To Unite In Defeating Hillary And Abandoning And Repudiating The Hapless 'Never Trump' Nonsense." HUCKABEE: "Donald Trump broke the code, owned the media, and inspired the masses. I will be all in to help him defeat Hillary Clinton and I call upon all fellow Republicans to unite in defeating Hillary and abandoning and repudiating the hapless 'Never Trump' nonsense. The dirty little secret is that the Never Trump movement was more about providing high dollar work for the political consultants than stopping the disaster of an Obama third term which is the result of electing Hillary Clinton. Is Donald Trump as pro-life as me? No. Is he as solid on the marriage issue as me? No. Does his position on Israel come from a deep conviction both politically and Biblically? No. But neither did Ted Cruz's. And much to my chagrin, the voters didn't accept my message, but his. I withheld an endorsement during the heat of the primary because it was the job of the voters to select the person they wanted more than me." [Statement, Mike Huckabee, 5/4/16<http://www.mikehuckabee.com/news?ID=d3549cc3-c06d-49dd-9e64-f8f06fd388c1>]

Mike Huckabee Accepted Trump As The GOP Nominee Despite Policy Differences: "Is Donald Trump As Pro-Life As Me? No. Is He As Solid On The Marriage Issue As Me? No. Does His Position On Israel Come From A Deep Conviction Both Politically And Biblically? No. But Neither Did Ted Cruz's. And Much To My Chagrin, The Voters Didn't Accept My Message, But His." HUCKABEE: "Donald Trump broke the code, owned the media, and inspired the masses. I will be all in to help him defeat Hillary Clinton and I call upon all fellow Republicans to unite in defeating Hillary and abandoning and repudiating the hapless 'Never Trump' nonsense. The dirty little secret is that the Never Trump movement was more about providing high dollar work for the political consultants than stopping the disaster of an Obama third term which is the result of electing Hillary Clinton. Is Donald Trump as pro-life as me? No. Is he as solid on the marriage issue as me? No. Does his position on Israel come from a deep conviction both politically and Biblically? No. But neither did Ted Cruz's. And much to my chagrin, the voters didn't accept my message, but his. I withheld an endorsement during the heat of the primary because it was the job of the voters to select the person they wanted more than me." [Statement, Mike Huckabee, 5/4/16<http://www.mikehuckabee.com/news?ID=d3549cc3-c06d-49dd-9e64-f8f06fd388c1>]

Ted Cruz

Trump: "Wow, Lyin' Ted Cruz Really Went Wacko Today. Made All Sorts Of Crazy Charges. Can't Function Under Pressure - Not Very Presidential. Sad!" [@realDonaldTrump, Twitter, 5/3/16<https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/727634574298255361>]

Trump Said Ted Cruz Was "One Hell Of A Competitor. He Is A Tough, Smart Guy. And He Has Got An Amazing Future." TRUMP: "I have to tell you that I've competed all my life. And as person, all my life I've been in competitions, different competitions, whether it's sports or business or now for ten months politics and I have to tell you that I have met some of the most incredible competitors that I have ever competed against right here on the Republican Party. You know, we started off with that 17 number and just so you understand Ted Cruz, I don't know if he likes me or if he doesn't like me, but he is one hell of a competitor. He is a tough, smart guy. And he has got an amazing future. He is got an amazing future. So I want to congratulate Ted. And I know how tough it is. It's tough. It's tough. I've had some moments where it was not looking so good and it's not a great feeling and so I understand how Ted feels and Heidi and their whole beautiful family. And I want to just say, though, that's one tough competitor." [Election Night Speech, New York NY, 5/3/16] [9:45]

Trump Said He Didn't Think Ted Cruz Had "A Proper Temperament" To Be A Supreme Court Justice. "But the billionaire said he isn't ready to put Cruz on the Supreme Court as a consolation prize - because his 'temperament' might not be suited to the job. Cruz, once the solicitor general for the Lone Star State, argued nine cases before America's highest court, winning five of them. 'I don't know. I'd have to think about it. That's a big decision,' he told DailyMail.com, saying that he's aware of Cruz's record as a constitutional lawyer. 'But there's a whole question of uniting, and there's a whole question as to temperament. And I'd have to think about it.' Trump raised Cruz's 'temperament' four separate times while explaining why putting the lawmaker on his Supreme Court short-list wasn't an easy call. He has said in the past that in order to quell conservatives' concerns about how he would approach Supreme Court appointments, he would release a list of names during the campaign and pledge to only choose nominees from it. 'He's got a tough temperament for what we're talking about,' Trump said of Cruz. 'You have to be a very, very smart, rational person in my opinion, to be a justice of any kind at a high level or low.' 'You need a proper temperament. And that would be a question that I would have.'" [Daily Mail, 5/2/16<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3569849/Time-quit-Ted-Trump-tells-Cruz-ready-leave-race-won-t-offer-constitutional-lawyer-spot-Supreme-Court-consolation-prize-tough-temperament.html#ixzz47hrjcLt7>]

Trump: "'You Have To Be A Very, Very Smart, Rational Person In My Opinion, To Be A Justice Of Any Kind At A High Level Or Low." "Cruz, once the solicitor general for the Lone Star State, argued nine cases before America's highest court, winning five of them. 'I don't know. I'd have to think about it. That's a big decision,' he told DailyMail.com, saying that he's aware of Cruz's record as a constitutional lawyer. 'But there's a whole question of uniting, and there's a whole question as to temperament. And I'd have to think about it.' Trump raised Cruz's 'temperament' four separate times while explaining why putting the lawmaker on his Supreme Court short-list wasn't an easy call. He has said in the past that in order to quell conservatives' concerns about how he would approach Supreme Court appointments, he would release a list of names during the campaign and pledge to only choose nominees from it. 'He's got a tough temperament for what we're talking about,' Trump said of Cruz. 'You have to be a very, very smart, rational person in my opinion, to be a justice of any kind at a high level or low.' 'You need a proper temperament. And that would be a question that I would have.'" [Daily Mail, 5/2/16<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3569849/Time-quit-Ted-Trump-tells-Cruz-ready-leave-race-won-t-offer-constitutional-lawyer-spot-Supreme-Court-consolation-prize-tough-temperament.html#ixzz47hrjcLt7>]

Muslims

Trump Said He Would Continue To Support His Proposed Muslim Ban, Even If It Hurt Him In The General Election. QUESTION: "Do you still believe Muslims should be banned from entering the country until we figure out what's going on, as you've said." TRUMP: "We have to be very vigilant. We have find out what's going on. We have major, major problems. Nobody wants to talk about it. We have a president that won't mention radical Islamic terrorism. He won't mention it, even though it's obvious terrible things are happening. We have to be extremely careful, vigilant. Yes, we have to find out what the hell is going on." QUESTION: "So that proposal stands for the general election, assuming you make it that far, you'll raise that as another issue?" TRUMP: "I don't know if it hurts me or not. I don't know if it hurts me. I don't care it hurts me. I'm doing the right thing when I do this. Whether it's Muslim or anything else, I have to do the right thing. That's the way I've been guided. When Joe said it's a little bit surprising, and I did see last night this is the first time in the history of our country where this has happened, where really a civilian in the truest sense got the nomination of a major party. I've been guided by common sense, by what's right. You see what's happening. And we have to be careful. We're allowing thousands of people to come into our country, thousands and thousands of people being placed all over the country that frankly nobody knows who they are. They don't have documentation in many cases-- In most cases. We don't know what we're doing. Let's see what happens. This could be a very serious problem for the future. If you look at what's happening all over Europe, with the migration. Look at what's happening. It's terrible what they have done to some of these countries,  they are going to destroy -- they are destroying Europe. I'm not going to let that happen to the United States." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16]

Trump Claimed Muslim Migrants "Are Destroying Europe" And Said He Was "Not Going To Let That Happen To The United States." QUESTION: "Do you still believe Muslims should be banned from entering the country until we figure out what's going on, as you've said." TRUMP: "We have to be very vigilant. We have find out what's going on. We have major, major problems. Nobody wants to talk about it. We have a president that won't mention radical Islamic terrorism. He won't mention it, even though it's obvious terrible things are happening. We have to be extremely careful, vigilant. Yes, we have to find out what the hell is going on." QUESTION: "So that proposal stands for the general election, assuming you make it that far, you'll raise that as another issue?" TRUMP: "I don't know if it hurts me or not. I don't know if it hurts me. I don't care it hurts me. I'm doing the right thing when I do this. Whether it's Muslim or anything else, I have to do the right thing. That's the way I've been guided. When Joe said it's a little bit surprising, and I did see last night this is the first time in the history of our country where this has happened, where really a civilian in the truest sense got the nomination of a major party. I've been guided by common sense, by what's right. You see what's happening. And we have to be careful. We're allowing thousands of people to come into our country, thousands and thousands of people being placed all over the country that frankly nobody knows who they are. They don't have documentation in many cases-- In most cases. We don't know what we're doing. Let's see what happens. This could be a very serious problem for the future. If you look at what's happening all over Europe, with the migration. Look at what's happening. It's terrible what they have done to some of these countries,  they are going to destroy -- they are destroying Europe. I'm not going to let that happen to the United States." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16]

Veterans
HEADLINE: "Trump In 1993 On Dating And STDs: 'The Equivalent Of A Soldier Going Over To Vietnam'" [BuzzFeed, 4/28/16<https://www.buzzfeed.com/natemcdermott/trump-in-1993-the-dating-scene-is-like-vietnam?utm_term=.gevKnBKJdz#.njMM8NMRwn>]

Trump In 1993: "We Have Our Own Vietnam. It's Called The Dating Game." TRUMP: "You know, if you're young, and in this era, and if you have any guilt about not having gone to Vietnam. We have our own Vietnam. It's called the dating game... Dating is like being in Vietnam. You're the equivalent of a soldier going over to Vietnam." [BuzzFeed, 4/28/16<https://www.buzzfeed.com/natemcdermott/trump-in-1993-the-dating-scene-is-like-vietnam?utm_term=.gevKnBKJdz#.njMM8NMRwn>; Howard Stern Show, 1993]

Women
Trump: "I Won With Women. I Love Winning With Women." TRUMP: "And I won with women. I love winning with women. But I won with women. We won with men. We won with Hispanics. We won with African-Americans. We won with every virtually every category so it's just been an amazing evening." [Election Night Speech, New York NY, 5/3/16]

Trump: "Women Want To See Strength. They Want To See A Strong Military." TRUMP: "As far as women are concerned, they want to see strength in our military. They want to see strength for our border. They want to see our country protected. We have a military that's being decimated. We have a military that is totally ill prepared, and in many cases, ill equipped... I will tell you, women want to see strength. They want to see a strong military." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16]

Abortion

Trump Said His Answer Supporting Punishment For Women Who Get Abortions "Was An Unbelievable Academic Answer" To A "Theoretical" Question. QUESTION: "As we go to the general, proposal for Muslim ban stands. What about what you told Chris Matthews a few weeks ago that women who get abortions should be punished. Do you still believe that to be true?" TRUMP: "No, he was asking me a theoretical, or just a question in theory. I talked about it only from that standpoint. Of course not. That was done-- he said-- I guess it was theoretically. He was asking a rhetorical question and I gave an answer. And by the way, people thought from an academic standpoint and asked rhetorically, people said that answer was an unbelievable academic answer. Of course not, I said that afterwards. Everybody understands that." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16]

HEADLINE: "Trump's Defense Of His Abortion Gaffe Is The Worst Defense Anyone Has Ever Given Of Anything." [Ben Mathis-Lilley, Slate, 5/4/16<http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/05/04/trump_defends_abortion_gaffe_with_academic_word_salad.html>]

Campaign Operations

5/3/16: The Trump Campaign Opened An Office In Edison, New Jersey. "Donald Trump will open up his New Jersey campaign headquarters in Edison, his campaign announced. The headquarters are located at 3910 Park Avenue Unit 5, Edison, NJ 08820. The grand opening will be Tuesday, May 3; however neither Trump nor New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will be there. The event is already sold out, but ticket information can be found here. The opening goes from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night, and campaign workers say they will be there watching the Indiana primary returns." [Woodbridge Patch, 5/3/16<http://patch.com/new-jersey/woodbridge/trump-opens-middlesex-county-headquarters-0>]

The Trump Campaign Paid To Promote Trump's Twitter Posts In Indiana. "Donald J. Trump is perhaps the most prolific user of Twitter in political history. But as he tries to put a stranglehold on the Republican nomination with a victory Tuesday in Indiana, he is putting up some of his own money to increase his reach on Twitter. Or, to put that in a more 140-character-friendly way: Mr. Trump is paying to promote some of his posts on Twitter. Mr. Trump's campaign has joined Twitter's regional ad targeting, having four of his posts appear in the feeds of selected Twitter users in Indiana, regardless of whether they are followers of the candidate. In a sign of growing technical sophistication within the Trump campaign, the Twitter posts are being aimed at particular audiences within the state. For example, a post with a video featuring the endorsement of Bobby Knight, the former Indiana University basketball coach, was targeted at basketball fans as identified by Twitter." [New York Times, 5/3/16<http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/05/03/donald-trump-master-of-promotion-now-pays-twitter-to-do-it-for-him-too/>]

Campaign Finance

5/3/16: Pro-Trump Great America PAC Hired Republican Strategist Ed Rollins. "Ed Rollins, one of the longest-serving Republican presidential campaign strategists, is joining a pro-Donald Trump super PAC. In an interview, Rollins - who managed Ronald Reagan's 1984 campaign and played leading roles for Jack Kemp, Mike Huckabee and Michele Bachmann - said that he would serve as a top strategist for Great America PAC, an outside group that's supporting Trump. Rollins said Trump would be the presumptive nominee if he wins Tuesday's Indiana primary as expected and that it was time for the party to unify around him. Rollins added that he'd grown frustrated with Trump critics who remained on the sidelines." [Politico, 5/3/16<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/ed-rollins-reagan-pro-trump-super-pac-222752#ixzz47cu6ne2m>]

Ed Rollins On Working For Pro-Trump Super PAC: "This Will Be My Last Hurrah. I'm 73 Years Old. I Can't Be Doing This Sh*t Forever." "Great America PAC has set an internal goal of raising $15 million by this summer. In tapping Rollins, the group hopes to attract new contributors, some of whom may be uncertain about Trump's prospects. Rollins said he expected his work on the super PAC to be his last activity as a political professional. 'This will be my last hurrah,' he said. 'I'm 73 years old. I can't be doing this shit forever.'" [Politico, 5/3/16<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/ed-rollins-reagan-pro-trump-super-pac-222752#ixzz47cu6ne2m>]

Great America PAC Hoped To Raise $15 Million By Summer 2016 To Support Trump's General Election Campaign. "While Trump's team is preparing to pivot to a general election battle, there are nagging questions about whether the real estate mogul has established the infrastructure needed. Rollins acknowledged those concerns, pointing specifically to Trump's lack of a donor network. But he expressed confidence that Great America PAC would be able to fill in some gaps. Great America PAC has set an internal goal of raising $15 million by this summer. In tapping Rollins, the group hopes to attract new contributors, some of whom may be uncertain about Trump's prospects. Rollins said he expected his work on the super PAC to be his last activity as a political professional. 'This will be my last hurrah,' he said. 'I'm 73 years old. I can't be doing this shit forever.'" [Politico, 5/3/16<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/ed-rollins-reagan-pro-trump-super-pac-222752#ixzz47cu6ne2m>]

Trump: "I Don't Want Big Contributions. Now, People Can Contribute To The Party. There Will Be A Unification, There's No Question About It." QUESTION: "You haven't had to spend too much money so far. So what about going forward? Are you going to be raising money with the Republican Party? Are you going to be self-financing or public financing." TRUMP: "So far I've spent my own money. I spent I think it's listed as $44 million and that's been my own money and also taken small contributions. We will probably take small contributions. We will take the limits. I don't want big contributions. Now, people can contribute to the party. There will be a unification, there's no question about it. But I'm really looking at small contribution, really, not the big ones. I don't want anybody to have anybody have any influence over me, that I can tell you." QUESTION: "Will you be writing big checks?" TRUMP: "I will be writing big checks, yes. I will be making major contributions to the party." [Good Morning America, ABC, 5/4/16]

Trump Admitted He Had "Also Taken Small Contributions" To Fund His Campaign Thus Far. QUESTION: "You haven't had to spend too much money so far. So what about going forward? Are you going to be raising money with the Republican Party? Are you going to be self-financing or public financing." TRUMP: "So far I've spent my own money. I spent I think it's listed as $44 million and that's been my own money and also taken small contributions. We will probably take small contributions. We will take the limits, I don't want big contributions. Now, people can contribute to the party. There will be a unification, there's no question about it. But I'm really looking at small contribution really, not the big ones. I don't want anybody to have anybody have any influence over me, that I can tell you." QUESTION: "Will you be writing big checks?" TRUMP: "I will be writing big checks, yes. I will be making major contributions to the party." [Good Morning America, ABC, 5/4/16]

Trump: "I Will Be Writing Big Checks, Yes. I Will Be Making Major Contributions To The Party." QUESTION: "You haven't had to spend too much money so far. So what about going forward? Are you going to be raising money with the Republican Party? Are you going to be self-financing or public financing." TRUMP: "So far I've spent my own money. I spent I think it's listed as $44 million and that's been my own money and also taken small contributions. We will probably take small contributions. We will take the limits, I don't want big contributions. Now, people can contribute to the party. There will be a unification, there's no question about it. But I'm really looking at small contribution really, not the big ones. I don't want anybody to have anybody have any influence over me, that I can tell you." QUESTION: "Will you be writing big checks?" TRUMP: "I will be writing big checks, yes. I will be making major contributions to the party." [Good Morning America, ABC, 5/4/16]

Trump On General Election Fundraising: "I Really Won't Be Asking For Money For Myself, I'll Be Asking Money For The Party. Really, It's Something We're Going To Start On Right Away." HEILEMANN: "You're heading down to an election, that by most reckoning, is going to cost a billion dollars to run a national campaign. You've been proud about being self-funded throughout this nomination fight. You have Ed Rollins and other people talking about forming Pro-Trump Super PACs. As you head into the general election, are you going to welcome the support of super PACS, as you get ready to run against Hillary Clinton?" TRUMP: "First of all, Ed Rollins, and others, have been so tremendous. We talk about the negatives, the Krauthammers, who are people-- they have real problems, or George Will, that nobody reads or listens to. But I'll tell you, I've had such incredible support. I'm going to be making a decision over the next week. The question is, I do love self-funding. And  I don't want anything for myself. But we do need money for the party. The party will come together. I don't think it's imperative the entire party come together. I don't want everybody. I don't even want certain people that were extraordinarily nasty-- let them go their own way. Let them wait eight years or 16 years. I think we're going to have a great success against probably Hillary because the system is totally rigged against Bernie, I mean, totally rigged against him. So probably we're going to have Hillary. And I will make a decision fairly soon as to that. I mean, do I want to sell a couple of buildings and self-fund? I don't know that I want to do that necessarily, but I really won't be asking for money for myself, I'll be asking money for the party. Really, it's something we're going to start on right away. I got a call last night from Reince Priebus. It's something that now that we're in this position, we're going to start on now." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16]

Trump: "I Do Love Self-Funding. And  I Don't Want Anything For Myself. But We Do Need Money For The Party. The Party Will Come Together." TRUMP: "First of all, Ed Rollins, and others, have been so tremendous. We talk about the negatives, the Krauthammers, who are people-- they have real problems, or George Will, that nobody reads or listens to. But I'll tell you, I've had such incredible support. I'm going to be making a decision over the next week. The question is, I do love self-funding. And  I don't want anything for myself. But we do need money for the party. The party will come together. I don't think it's imperative the entire party come together... And I will make a decision fairly soon as to that. I mean, do I want to sell a couple of buildings and self-fund? I don't know that I want to do that necessarily, but I really won't be asking for money for myself, I'll be asking money for the party. Really, it's something we're going to start on right away. I got a call last night from Reince Priebus. It's something that now that we're in this position, we're going to start on now." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16]

Trump Said He Would Make A Decision On How To Finance His General Election Campaign "Over The Next Week." HEILEMANN: "You're heading down to an election, that by most reckoning, is going to cost a billion dollars to run a national campaign. You've been proud about being self-funded throughout this nomination fight. You have Ed Rollins and other people talking about forming Pro-Trump Super PACs. As you head into the general election, are you going to welcome the support of super PACS, as you get ready to run against Hillary Clinton?" TRUMP: "First of all, Ed Rollins, and others, have been so tremendous. We talk about the negatives, the Krauthammers, who are people-- they have real problems, or George Will, that nobody reads or listens to. But I'll tell you, I've had such incredible support. I'm going to be making a decision over the next week. The question is, I do love self-funding. And  I don't want anything for myself. But we do need money for the party. The party will come together. I don't think it's imperative the entire party come together. I don't want everybody. I don't even want certain people that were extraordinarily nasty-- let them go their own way. Let them wait eight years or 16 years, I think we're going to have a great success against probably Hillary because the system is totally rigged against Bernie, I mean, totally rigged against him. So probably we're going to have Hillary. And I will make a decision fairly soon as to that. I mean, do I want to sell a couple of buildings and self-fund? I don't know that I want to do that necessarily, but I really won't be asking for money for myself, I'll be asking money for the party. Really, it's something we're going to start on right away. I got a call last night from Reince Priebus. It's something that now that we're in this position, we're going to start on now." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16]

Trump Said He Did Not Want To Have To Sell Off Assets To Self-Fund His General Election Campaign: "I Mean, Do I Want To Sell A Couple Of Buildings And Self-Fund? I Don't Know That I Want To Do That Necessarily, But I Really Won't Be Asking For Money For Myself, I'll Be Asking Money For The Party." HEILEMANN: "You're heading down to an election, that by most reckoning, is going to cost a billion dollars to run a national campaign. You've been proud about being self-funded throughout this nomination fight. You have Ed Rollins and other people talking about forming Pro-Trump Super PACs. As you head into the general election, are you going to welcome the support of super PACS, as you get ready to run against Hillary Clinton?" TRUMP: "First of all, Ed Rollins, and others, have been so tremendous. We talk about the negatives, the Krauthammers, who are people-- they have real problems, or George Will, that nobody reads or listens to. But I'll tell you, I've had such incredible support. I'm going to be making a decision over the next week. The question is, I do love self-funding. And  I don't want anything for myself. But we do need money for the party. The party will come together. I don't think it's imperative the entire party come together. I don't want everybody. I don't even want certain people that were extraordinarily nasty-- let them go their own way. Let them wait eight years or 16 years, I think we're going to have a great success against probably Hillary because the system is totally rigged against Bernie, I mean, totally rigged against him. So probably we're going to have Hillary. And I will make a decision fairly soon as to that. I mean, do I want to sell a couple of buildings and self-fund? I don't know that I want to do that necessarily, but I really won't be asking for money for myself, I'll be asking money for the party. Really, it's something we're going to start on right away. I got a call last night from Reince Priebus. It's something that now that we're in this position, we're going to start on now." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16]

Trump Said He Was Open To Big Donor Contributions For The Republican Party In The General Election. "Trump, who has so far largely self-funded his campaign, also talked about the possibility of evolving his operation as he sets his sights on Hillary Clinton, who will undoubtedly be able to supercharge her own fundraising as she becomes the one person who stands in between Trump and the White House. He revealed that he's spent $44 million on his campaign so far and predicted that the general election could cost upwards of $1billion. And while he signaled that he would write big checks for the party and may be open to big donor contributions for the GOP, he said he wants only small contributions for his campaign. 'I'm not looking for myself. I'm looking for the party, where the party, you know, is going to receive a lot of money so the party can compete,' Trump said. 'Including its Senate races. Including its congressional races. And, you know, I think that's a very big part of it. That's a big part of what I want to do. I want to raise a lot of money for the party itself.'" [Politico, 5/4/16<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/donald-trump-republican-nominee-transition-222785#ixzz47hbG62jg>]

Conspiracy Theorist

HEADLINE: "Donald Trump Is Obsessed With Race-Baiting Conspiracy Theories." [MSNBC, 5/3/16<http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/donald-trump-obsessed-race-baiting-conspiracy-theories>]

Trump Elevated Fringe Conspiracy Theories And Anecdotes, Many Of Which Had Strong Racial Components. "The GOP presidential front-runner, whether by choice or by nature, appears fundamentally unable to distinguish between credible sources and chain e-mails. Equally significant, though, is that he uses these falsehoods to elevate fringe conspiracy theories and anecdotes that politicians are normally careful to keep far away from mainstream politics. He's spread discredited claims linking vaccines to autism, for example - a debunked theory that medical officials say has harmed efforts to wipe out preventable diseases.  Trump has an online fan base of white nationalists, whom he sometimes retweets to his millions of followers. It's important to note that many of the most egregious examples of Trump's false claims have a strong racial and ethnic component. Tuesday's JFK story was a perfect example: A smear whose effect was to make Ted Cruz and his Cuban-born father appear strange, foreign, and untrustworthy. There are many others." [MSNBC, 5/3/16<http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/donald-trump-obsessed-race-baiting-conspiracy-theories>]

MSNBC's Sarlin: Trump "Whether By Choice Or By Nature, Appears Fundamentally Unable To Distinguish Between Credible Sources And Chain E-Mails." "The GOP presidential front-runner, whether by choice or by nature, appears fundamentally unable to distinguish between credible sources and chain e-mails. Equally significant, though, is that he uses these falsehoods to elevate fringe conspiracy theories and anecdotes that politicians are normally careful to keep far away from mainstream politics." [MSNBC, 5/3/16<http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/donald-trump-obsessed-race-baiting-conspiracy-theories>]

Trump Said The National Enquirer Would Not Have Published The Story Linking Rafael Cruz To Lee Harvey Oswald If It Could Not Be Verified. TRUMP: "There was a picture a few weeks ago, and it was all over the place, about Lee Harvey Oswald and his father." HANNITY: "Was that verified ever? I saw that there was something on the Internet." TRUMP: "It was a picture put in and [the Enquirer] wouldn't put it in if they could be sued, that I can tell you. They are very big professionals. And it was put in. And, by the way, Ted Cruz, I don't think denied it at the news conference. But they don't do things unless it can be verified. But if that were true, what was [Rafael Cruz] doing having breakfast, or whatever they were doing, three months before the JFK assassination? Why was the father meeting with Lee Harvey Oswald?" [Hannity Radio, 5/3/16]

Trump On The National Enquirer: "They Don't Do Things Unless It Can Be Verified." TRUMP: "There was a picture a few weeks ago, and it was all over the place, about Lee Harvey Oswald and his father." HANNITY: "Was that verified ever? I saw that there was something on the Internet." TRUMP: "It was a picture put in and [the Enquirer] wouldn't put it in if they could be sued, that I can tell you. They are very big professionals. And it was put in. And, by the way, Ted Cruz, I don't think denied it at the news conference. But they don't do things unless it can be verified. But if that were true, what was [Rafael Cruz] doing having breakfast, or whatever they were doing, three months before the JFK assassination? Why was the father meeting with Lee Harvey Oswald?" [Hannity Radio, 5/3/16]

Trump Said He Brought Up An Unsubstantiated Story Linking Rafael Cruz To Lee Harvey Oswald "In Response To Some Very, Very Nasty -- I Mean, Honestly, Very, Very Nasty Remarks Made About Me." GUTHRIE: "Yesterday morning, you went on a morning show and suggested that Ted Cruz's father, Rafael Cruz, may have somehow been involved in, of all things, the JFK assassination. Why in the world would you do that?" TRUMP: "Savannah, I was on a show, and they played a clip of Ted's father, who is very active in the campaign. It's not like he is an inactive person." GUTHRIE: "But there is no evidence of this." TRUMP: "Excuse me. He said, you know, very nasty things about me. Then I just asked about stories that were appearing all over the place. Not just in the National Enquirer. About the fact a picture was taken of him and Lee Harvey Oswald. They didn't deny the picture. I just asked, what was that all about? This was in response to some very, very nasty -- I mean, honestly, very, very nasty remarks made about me." LAUER: "Mr. Trump, I guess what Savannah is getting at here, on the morning you had this in your grasp and you were seeing the polls indicating that you were going to win this, and perhaps go on to become the nominee, why take that opportunity at that moment to go back into the gutter?" TRUMP: "Well, because I didn't know I had it in the grasp. I mean, I didn't know I was going to win by such a big margin. I won by a massive margin, and the people of Indiana, I'm thankful to them. I had no idea early in the morning. The voting booths practically not open when I made a call to this show. They ran a clip of some terrible remarks made by the father about me. All I did is refer him to these articles that appeared about his picture. You know, not such a bad thing." [Today, NBC, 5/4/16]

Trump Claimed Stories Linking Rafael Cruz To Lee Harvey Oswald "Were Appearing All Over The Place. Not Just In The National Enquirer." GUTHRIE: "Yesterday morning, you went on a morning show and suggested that Ted Cruz's father, Rafael Cruz, may have somehow been involved in, of all things, the JFK assassination. Why in the world would you do that?" TRUMP: "Savannah, I was on a show, and they played a clip of Ted's father, who is very active in the campaign. It's not like he is an inactive person." GUTHRIE: "But there is no evidence of this." TRUMP: "Excuse me. He said, you know, very nasty things about me. Then I just asked about stories that were appearing all over the place. Not just in the National Enquirer. About the fact a picture was taken of him and Lee Harvey Oswald. They didn't deny the picture. I just asked, what was that all about? This was in response to some very, very nasty -- I mean, honestly, very, very nasty remarks made about me." LAUER: "Mr. Trump, I guess what Savannah is getting at here, on the morning you had this in your grasp and you were seeing the polls indicating that you were going to win this, and perhaps go on to become the nominee, why take that opportunity at that moment to go back into the gutter?" TRUMP: "Well, because I didn't know I had it in the grasp. I mean, I didn't know I was going to win by such a big margin. I won by a massive margin, and the people of Indiana, I'm thankful to them. I had no idea early in the morning. The voting booths practically not open when I made a call to this show. They ran a clip of some terrible remarks made by the father about me. All I did is refer him to these articles that appeared about his picture. You know, not such a bad thing." [Today, NBC, 5/4/16]

Trump: "The National Enquirer Gave You John Edwards, It Gave You O.J. Simpson. It Gave You Many, Many Things. I Mean, You Can't Knock The National Enquirer. It's Brought Many Things To Light, Not All Of Them Pleasant." STEPHANOPOULOS: "You had kind words yesterday for Ted Cruz but do you owe his father an apology saying he was with Lee Harvey Oswald before JFK's assassination? You don't really have evidence to back up that charge." TRUMP: "All I was doing was referring to was a picture reported and in a magazine and I think they didn't deny it. I don't think anybody denied it. I don't know what it was exactly, but it was a major story in a major publication and it was picked up by many other publications." STEPHANOPOULOS: "It was the National Enquirer and even the expert who cited it wasn't sure it was Mr. Cruz." TRUMP: "The National Enquirer gave you John Edwards, it gave you O.J. Simpson. It gave you many, many things. I mean, you can't knock the National Enquirer. It's brought many things to light, not all of them pleasant." [Good Morning America, ABC, 5/4/16]

Running Mate

Trump Planned To Announce A Committee, Including Ben Cason, To Handle His Vice Presidential Selection Process. "Donald J. Trump said on Wednesday that he expected to reveal his vice presidential pick sometime in July - before the Republican National Convention in Cleveland - but added that he would soon announce a committee to handle the selection process, which would include Dr. Ben Carson. Mr. Trump made the comments in an interview with The New York Times the morning after he became the presumptive Republic Party nominee for president, facing only Gov. John Kasich of Ohio in the G.O.P. race. Mr. Trump, the Manhattan businessman, said that while he was not committed to making a more conventional political pick in the form of a seasoned politician, he was leaning in that direction. 'I'm more inclined to go with a political person,' Mr. Trump said. 'I have business very much covered.' He added, 'I think I'll be absolutely great on the military and military strategy.' But the vice presidential choice will probably not come until July, Mr. Trump said. As for the process used to make the selection, he said, 'I'll set up a committee, and that I will do soon.' 'I think on the committee I'll have Dr. Ben Carson and some other folks,' Mr. Trump said." [New York Times, 5/4/16<http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/05/04/donald-trump-discusses-how-hell-select-a-running-mate/>]

*         Trump Planned To Announce His Running Mate In July, Ahead Of The Republican Convention. "Donald J. Trump said on Wednesday that he expected to reveal his vice presidential pick sometime in July - before the Republican National Convention in Cleveland - but added that he would soon announce a committee to handle the selection process, which would include Dr. Ben Carson. Mr. Trump made the comments in an interview with The New York Times the morning after he became the presumptive Republic Party nominee for president, facing only Gov. John Kasich of Ohio in the G.O.P. race... But the vice presidential choice will probably not come until July, Mr. Trump said. As for the process used to make the selection, he said, 'I'll set up a committee, and that I will do soon.' 'I think on the committee I'll have Dr. Ben Carson and some other folks,' Mr. Trump said." [New York Times, 5/4/16<http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/05/04/donald-trump-discusses-how-hell-select-a-running-mate/>]

HEADLINE: "Trump Says He's Begun Vetting VP Picks." [Politico, 5/4/16<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/trump-vice-president-pick-222781>]

Donald Trump: "I'm More Inclined To Go With A Political Person" As A Running Mate Because "I Have Business Very Much Covered" And "I Think I'll Be Absolutely Great On The Military And Military Strategy." "Donald J. Trump said on Wednesday that he expected to reveal his vice presidential pick sometime in July - before the Republican National Convention in Cleveland - but added that he would soon announce a committee to handle the selection process, which would include Dr. Ben Carson. Mr. Trump made the comments in an interview with The New York Times the morning after he became the presumptive Republic Party nominee for president, facing only Gov. John Kasich of Ohio in the G.O.P. race. Mr. Trump, the Manhattan businessman, said that while he was not committed to making a more conventional political pick in the form of a seasoned politician, he was leaning in that direction. 'I'm more inclined to go with a political person,' Mr. Trump said. 'I have business very much covered.' He added, 'I think I'll be absolutely great on the military and military strategy.'" [New York Times, 5/4/16<http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/05/04/donald-trump-discusses-how-hell-select-a-running-mate/>]

Trump Said His Running Mate Would Definitely Be A Republican. STEPHANOPOULOS: "Let's talk about other steps you might take to unify the party including your choice for vice president. Will your vice presidential choice definitely be a Republican?" TRUMP: "Yes, that's true." [Good Morning America, ABC, 5/4/16]

Trump Said His Running Mate Would "Be Probably Be A Person With Political Experience." STEPHANOPOULOS: "Let's talk about other steps you might take to unify the party including your choice for vice president. Will your vice presidential choice definitely be a Republican?" TRUMP: "Yes, that's true."  STEPHANOPOULOS: "Will it be an elected official?" TRUMP: "Most likely and it will be probably a person with political experience because, I mean, while I've been in the world of politics all my life, the business, I will handle so well will bring our jobs back and bring our economy back but I do want people to -- I would like to have somebody that could truly be good with respect to dealing with the Senate, dealing with Congress, getting legislation passed. Working toward something where we're not signing executive orders every three days like president Obama does... I think probably I would like to go with somebody with great political experience." [Good Morning America, ABC, 5/4/16]

Trump Said His Running Mate Would Probably Come From The Political Sphere Because He Already Had The Business And Military Spheres Handled. STEPHANOPOULOS: "Let's talk about other steps you might take to unify the party including your choice for vice president. Will your vice presidential choice definitely be a Republican?" TRUMP: "Yes, that's true."  STEPHANOPOULOS: "Will it be an elected official?" TRUMP: "Most likely and it will be probably a person with political experience because, I mean, while I've been in the world of politics all my life, the business, I will handle so well will bring our jobs back and bring our economy back but I do want people to -- I would like to have somebody that could truly be good with respect to dealing with the Senate, dealing with Congress, getting legislation passed. Working toward something where we're not signing executive orders every three days like president Obama does." STEPHANOPOULOS: "Sounds like you have a name in mind." TRUMP: "Not a name in mind but I do like the political sphere. You have the military sphere, you have the political sphere and business. Well, the business I handle. I think I'm going to be very, very good on the military to be honest with you. I think that will be the hidden strength and I think probably I would like to go with somebody with great political experience." [Good Morning America, ABC, 5/4/16]

Trump Said He Considered A Military Leader As A Running Mate "And There's One Person I Think Is Very Good." QUESTION: "We confirmed at NBC News your campaign started to vet vice presidential candidates. Who are the names you're looking at?" TRUMP: "It's too soon. I just don't want to do it. I think a lot of people are talking about certain names, and certainly those are the names we're thinking of." QUESTION: "Can you give us one or two." TRUMP: "I think I will say I probably will go the political route. I have the business-- let's call it-- talents. I think I'll probably go political route, somebody that can help me with legislation, somebody that can get things passed. Somebody that's been friends with Senators and Congressmen, so we don't have to go the executive order route as much as Obama did, where he can't get anything approved so he just keeps signing executive orders. But more than likely, I would go the political route." QUESTION: "So not a general. A lot of people proposed a military leader." TRUMP: "Well, it's something I thought of, and there's one person I think is very good. I really want to -- I think more likely I'm inclined to go -- speaking of general, I think one of my strengths -- one of my strengths is economy and jobs." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16]

Trump Said He Was Not Inclined To Choose A Military Leader As A Running Mate Because "One Of My Really Great Strengths Will Be The Military." QUESTION: "We confirmed at NBC News your campaign started to vet vice presidential candidates. Who are the names you're looking at?" TRUMP: "It's too soon. I just don't want to do it. I think a lot of people are talking about certain names, and certainly those are the names we're thinking of." QUESTION: "Can you give us one or two." TRUMP: "I think I will say I probably will go the political route. I have the business-- let's call it-- talents. I think I'll probably go political route, somebody that can help me with legislation, somebody that can get things passed. Somebody that's been friends with Senators and Congressmen, so we don't have to go the executive order route as much as Obama did, where he can't get anything approved so he just keeps signing executive orders. But more than likely, I would go the political route." QUESTION: "So not a general. A lot of people proposed a military leader." TRUMP: "Well, it's something I thought of, and there's one person I think is very good. I really want to -- I think more likely I'm inclined to go -- speaking of general, I think one of my strengths -- one of my strengths is economy and jobs. We're going to make great trade deals. We're going to reverse it. Right now we're a laughingstock all over the world with the dumb deals we make. One of my really great strengths will be the military, will be getting us out and winning and getting us out of the mess we're in in the Middle East. We're up to almost $4 trillion of spending and thousands and thousands of lives, more importantly. But I think it will be -- end up being a strength. So we'll see what happens." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16]

Hillary Clinton

Trump: "[Hillary Clinton] Has Poor Judgment And Bernie Sanders Said It. I Took It Right Out Of His Playbook. He Said She Has Poor Judgment." TRUMP: "She has poor judgment and Bernie Sanders said it. I took it right out of his playbook. He said she has poor judgment. He also said she's not qualified. That's going a lot-that's going a long way. But he said, more importantly, she's got poor judgment. lf you look at the e-mail scandals and all of the bad decisions she's made with Libya, whether it's Benghazi, whether it's so many other things, you look back at what's happened during the administration." [Good Morning America, ABC, 5/4/16]

Trump Said It Was "Going A Long Way" To Suggest Hillary Clinton Wasn't Qualified To Be President, But Reiterated She Had Poor Judgment. TRUMP: "She has poor judgment and Bernie Sanders said it. I took it right out of his playbook. He said she has poor judgment. He also said she's not qualified. That's going a lot-that's going a long way. But he said, more importantly, she's got poor judgment." [Good Morning America, ABC, 5/4/16]

Trump: "I Think We'll Beat Hillary Clinton. She's Horrible On The Economy, Horrible On Jobs. She Is Really Horrible On The Military." TRUMP: "I think we'll beat Hillary Clinton. She's horrible on the economy, horrible on jobs. She is really horrible on the military. Look what she's done with the military and her decisions were terrible. You know what, Bernie Sanders says she suffers from poor judgment. I think I may be using that line a little bit over the next number of months." [Fox & Friends, Fox News, 5/4/16]

Trump: "Hillary Clinton As You Know, She Says She Wants To Put The Coal Miners Out Of Business Never To Work Again. I Don't Know How She Can Go To West Virginia." TRUMP: "I want clean coal. We'll have clean coal and plenty of it. We send coal -- well, first of all, the coal industry is being decimated and many great people are out of work and they can't get back into work. Hillary Clinton as you know, she says she wants to put the coal miners out of business never to work again. I don't know how she can go to West Virginia. I mean -- that must have been uncomfortable." [Fox & Friends, Fox News, 5/4/16]

Trump Said Hillary Clinton "Should Suffer Like Other People Have Suffered Who Have Done Far Less Than She Has" On The Email Scandal. TRUMP: "Hillary Clinton she's got poor judgment. He also said she's unqualified. I won't even go there. Bernie Sanders said she's got poor judgment, and she does. Look at the e-mail scandal. She shouldn't even be allowed to run. You know that, Joe knows that, and everybody knows that she's only being protected by the Democrats. She should not be allowed to run in the election. She should suffer like other people have suffered who have done far less than she has. You look at so many, I won't even mention names anymore. You look at so many people who have done far less than her, the same subject matter, and it's been a horror show. Here she is running for president like nothing happened. She shouldn't even be allowed to run. You know that." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16]

Trump On Bernie Sanders Saying Hillary Clinton Was Unqualified: "I Won't Even Go There." TRUMP: "Hillary Clinton she's got poor judgment. He also said she's unqualified. I won't even go there. Bernie Sanders said she's got poor judgment, and she does. Look at the e-mail scandal. She shouldn't even be allowed to run. You know that, Joe knows that, and everybody knows that she's only being protected by the Democrats. She should not be allowed to run in the election. She should suffer like other people have suffered who have done far less than she has. You look at so many, I won't even mention names anymore. You look at so many people who have done far less than her, the same subject matter, and it's been a horror show. Here she is running for president like nothing happened. She shouldn't even be allowed to run. You know that." [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 5/4/16]