Now we hear that Donald J. Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan have closed the rift between them.
Fine, if you’re a Republican. I guess.
Are they anywhere near closing the deal in the wake of their 45-minute meeting in Washington, D.C.?
Let’s see:
— Trump won’t touch entitlement spending, but he vows to erase the budget deficit quickly.
— Trump opposes trade agreements that allow for freer trade between the United States and our international partners.
— Trump wants to ban Muslims from entering the United States.
— Trump says he’s fine with Japan and South Korea developing nuclear arsenals.
— Trump says President Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction in a deliberate deception to start a war with Iraq.
— Trump wants foreign governments to pay us back for the assistance we give them.
— Trump is open to the United States withdrawing from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
— Trump says rich people should pay more in taxes.
I’m pretty sure that Speaker Ryan disagrees fundamentally with all those views. The presumptive presidential nominee’s view on tax policy and trade run completely counter to standard conservative Republican orthodoxy.
I know I’m missing a few examples. Those are the ones that come to mind immediately.
Trump has said “party unity” is overrated. Now he’s all in favor of it.
I will await the outcome of this run-up to the GOP convention in Cleveland along with the rest of the nation.
If Trump caves in to GOP policy, he risks ticking off his ardent followers.
If the “GOP establishment” surrenders to Trump, then the true-blue Republican faithful will be left standing in the rain.
Ryan today talked about standing firm on “core principles,” which I believe he possesses. Trump’s principles? I’m still waiting for him to reveal them.