According to a recent report in the Washington Times, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump had a cozy little chat over the telephone sometime toward the end of May (meaning just two months ago). The timing was significant; about three weeks after that phone conversation, Trump announced his candidacy for President.
Although one of Clinton’s aides says that the former US President didn’t actually advise Trump to enter the race, sources close to both parties state that Clinton was encouraging Trump to “play a larger role in the Republican Party,” giving his old buddy some personal insights on current politics. Clinton insists that the private conversation was “informal.”
The Clintons and Trump go back a few years. In 2005, Bill and Hillary Clinton attended Trump’s third wedding. In the past, Trump has supported both Hillary and the Clinton Foundation. In fact, up until 2011, Trump was quite supportive of Democratic candidates in general – until he discovered they couldn’t be bought quite as easily as their GOP counterparts.
This has raised suspicions among GOP members that Trump may actually be working undercover for the Dems in order to undermine the Republican Party. According to GOP Florida congressman Carlos Curbelo, Trump “quite possibly is a phantom candidate recruited by the left to create this entire political circus.” He adds that Trump’s past relationship and dealings with the Clintons are “very suspicious.”
While that theory may be entertaining, Max Steele, Communications Director for the Florida Democratic Party finds it “absurd.” Speaking to the Miami Herald, Steele said, “Curbelo’s bizarre claim is an insult to the intelligence of his constituents and goes to show just how much damage Trump is doing to the Republican Party’s brand.” Steele adds, “Unfortunately for Curbelo, Trump is only gaining in the [GOP] polls.”
Have the Clintons pulled off the greatest scheme ever for the Democratic Party to win, persuading Trump to enter the race and destroy the GOP? While it seems unlikely, you must remember Trump has proven to be easily flattered and manipulated…as well as painfully stupid.
