WASHINGTON — Donald Trump, Jr. told PJM that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is “a little desperate” and that denying frontrunner Donald Trump the nomination at the convention would “destroy” the GOP.
“I think if they try to do that they will either destroy the GOP as we know it or they’re OK with that, because there’s never really been any accountability for when they do that. It’s not like they’ve given us winners, right? Look at the last few election cycles. The elite thinks they know what they are doing, but they are way out of touch with the people,” Trump Jr., executive vice president at The Trump Organization, said during an interview on the red carpet as top figures from the media, political and entertainment worlds attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night.
“We’ve already achieved more votes than any other Republican in the history of the GOP. I mean, that should say something and, I mean, they have to stop thinking that the people are out of touch with the pundit class and start thinking that maybe the pundits are out of touch with the people,” he added.
Trump Jr. was asked for his reaction to Cruz choosing Carly Fiorina as his vice president.
“I’m not sure I get it. I mean, it seems a little desperate. I’ve never heard of anyone who doesn’t even have half the amount of delegates required to win appointing a VP, but to each their own. But I think it’s the antithesis of our campaign. We’re campaigning about creating jobs. I wouldn’t necessarily bring on a CEO that’s laid off 35,000 people,” he said.
“I can’t name another CEO who has laid off more than that off the top of my head. Maybe there’s one or two out there but it seems to the contrary of what we’re trying to do, which is bring jobs back to America, not export them out.”
After winning the Pennsylvania primary, Donald Trump was awarded 17 delegates while the 54 “unbound” delegates are chosen directly by voters. Trump Jr. was asked about the status of the Trump campaign’s efforts to win over the delegates.
“Those people are starting to realize they have to be held accountable, that they have to vote with the will of the people. There’s one thing my father has done is expose this nonsense that you can win Pennsylvania, you can win every GOP vote in Pennsylvania and you get 17 of 72 delegates,” he said.
Trump Jr. dismissed national polls that show Trump trailing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in a hypothetical general election matchup.
“They’ve closed that gap to one of statistical insignificance. Those are the same people that told him he had zero — not one percent or two percent — zero chance of ever going anywhere in this race, and look at where we are. I don’t think that matters all that much. Just let him have at it, he’ll do just fine. I promise,” he said.
During a recent press conference, Donald Trump told reporters he may “act differently” in the general election but his “thought process is the same.”
Trump Jr. assured voters that his father would not change his campaign strategy if he becomes the nominee.
“My father is always going to be himself. What you’ll see with things like the foreign policy experience — he can do both, but he wants to appeal to the people. He doesn’t necessary care about the elite and talking to that group. He wants to talk to the people that matter — the people who have been left out,” Trump Jr. said.
“The hardworking blue-collar in this country who no longer have a voice, whose jobs have been shipped overseas, who are getting stuck with this debt that their kids and grandkids will be stuck with. He’s appealing to them, and those are the people who should have a say.”
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