Seeking to refocus his presidential campaign, Donald Trump will lambaste Democratic rival Hillary Clinton as a failed secretary of state who is out of step with Americans on trade and immigration.
Trump’s address Wednesday morning at his hotel in New York’s SoHo neighborhood marks his official opening salvo against Clinton, the prospective Democratic presidential nominee, in the general election. It comes as Trump faces growing questions about his readiness not just for the presidency, but for the campaign he will need to run to get there.
The Trump campaign is hoping the speech can quiet those concerns and rally Republicans around their shared opposition to Clinton. The billionaire businessman plans to focus in particular on Clinton’s tenure at the State Department, arguing that her foreign policy is in part responsible for the creation of the Islamic State militant group.
“Hillary Clinton had a four-year tryout for the presidency as secretary of state,” said Stephen Miller, a Trump policy adviser. “She ran the State Department and the world went up in flames. Everything took a nosedive, except for Hillary Clinton’s bank account — which swelled to new highs.”
Trump is also expected to cite Clinton’s past support for trade deals and her willingness, along with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, to accept speaking fees and contributions to their foundation from countries with poor human rights records. However, Trump is not expected to target the former president’s personal infidelities, as he did earlier in the campaign.
Clinton has been harshly critical of Trump, particularly since she wrapped up her lengthy Democratic primary battle. On Monday, she warned that the businessman would send the U.S. economy back into recession and said his “reckless” approach would hurt workers still trying to recover from the 2008 economic turbulence.
“Every day we see how reckless and careless Trump is. He’s proud of it,” Clinton said. “Well, that’s his choice. Except when he’s asking to be our president. Then it’s our choice.”
Trump had planned to deliver his address on Clinton last week, but he postponed the event because of the nightclub shootings in Orlando, Florida.
The Republican’s response to the attack was panned by many in his own party, who bristled as he took credit for “being right” about terrorism and suggested that President Barack Obama was sympathetic to militant groups. The Orlando gunman identified himself as an Islamic soldier in calls with authorities during his rampage.
On Monday, Trump fired his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, hours before a new fundraising report showed that the billionaire’s campaign had just $1.3 million in the bank at the start of June.
Trump allies cast Lewandowski’s firing this week as the start of a new phase for the campaign. Paul Manafort, the campaign chairman and Lewandowski’s internal rival, signaled on a conference call with aides that a rapid staffing expansion would be coming soon.
Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker, who has been seen as a potential vice presidential pick, said he was “pretty excited” to learn of the changes.
“I think that what appears to be occurring over the last 24 hours is a movement in a direction that I think could be very, very positive,” Corker said.
While Manafort, a longtime Republican operative, is believed to be in charge now, the campaign has not fully clarified who is running the operation.
“It’s not been written down anywhere, but you have to assume,” Ed Brookover, the campaign’s liaison to the Republican National Committee, said of Manafort.
As with everything involving Trump, the billionaire appears to be the only one truly in charge.
“I think I want to be who I am. I don’t want to be a phony like Hillary Clinton,” he told NBC’s “Today.” He added: “I want to be what I am.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
It looks like Donald may be getting back on track. The best way for Donald to unite the Republican party behind him is to begin going after Hillary Clinton. I’m tired of hearing about conspiracies to take the Republican nomination from him. I want him to spend his time telling us about Hillary’s many failures and also telling us what he will do as president. Mr. Trump has a reputation for being a strong, decisive leader. Now is the time for him to lead.
Donald J. Trump!!
Slogan(Make America great again).
What else hi is not able to finish three simple sentences, and not boast of his business achievement, their education in college, and golf course or support in the polls alo that’s what it really is (bad or good) walking performars who does not have to be converted.
He on the outer political tell it is in a casino deal, and on the economy as it is a piece of reinforcement that only some smart gay be mounted somewhere to set.
It’s hard not look at it!!!!
He has dementia, it is obvious. Three sentences, my butt. He can’t make one, coherent, logical sentence without interrupting himself. As an Anti-Trump Libertarian, I don’t hate the guy; in fact, he is quite entertaining. But if he were to have a psychiatric evaluation, they would pronounce him to be a narcissistic sociopath, with delusions of grandeur. Or he might just have Alzheimers. Question: why is there a requirement for a person to pass a psychiatric test in order to be a member of the nation’s military, but not to be the Commander In Chief? There is something wrong with that picture.
I hope to hear an organized and well thought out plan by DT. One that shows the short comings of Hillary as well as high level ideas on areas of improvement for the U.S. Besides the mud slinging, give us constructive comments on how we can improve our nation and Make America Great Again.
Sorry, to disappoint, Woodlands27. You will never hear a well-thought-out plan of any kind from Donald Trump.He just cannot do it. I have listened to everything he has said for over a year. He has had plenty of opportunities to do ‘well, thought-out’. It should be obvious to listeners that his incoherent rhetoric is not an act. He just can’t help it. But let us keep hoping, all right? I hope he proves me wrong.
Hillary continues to smear Donald Trump with fantasy generalities…..nothing specific to support her BS. Trump, however, has plenty of real ammunition full of corrupt actions she has taken over many years, most recently during her stint as SOS. Should be interesting as time goes on and more of her is exposed!!!
I had the opportunity to listen to Trump’s speech and he was spot on about that corrupt bitch Hillary Clinton. I was a registered Democrat until Donald Trump came on board. Hillary needs to go to prison, she is a deceitful, lying, corrupt criminal who’s only ambition is power and arrogance. She could give a shit about Blacks, Hispanics, LGBT’s and everybody else in this country except her corrupt big money donor’s. YOU WOULDN’T MARRY A BITCH WHY VOTE FOR ONE?
It would also be helpful to see how Trump intends to solve our nation’s problems instead of just pointing them out. I am ready to vote libertarian unless he changes his ways. For example, how does he intend to stamp out ISIS??? Insult them all to death? Tap everybody’s phones to root them out in this country? Make fun of their looks until they give up and go home? Or maybe just carpet-bomb every country that has a Muslim population?
Those of you who criticize Trump for being somewhat repetitive are correct. I sometimes pray
that he will be more articulate in his speeches.However, I do think he loves this country unlike
that lying,greedy ,thieving piece of crap Hillary !!!!! Her only motivation is power !!!! She has
lusted after the position of POTUS for decades !!!! She has no conciouns,No compassion and no
qualms about the deaths for which she is directly responsible!!!! It is astonishing the number of
people that committed suicide who were associated with Killary !!!! I believe Trump knows his
limitations regarding the military,the economy ,foreign policy etc., and will surround himelf
with experts in each field and take their advice unlike the Impostor in Chief that currently
resides in the White House !!!!!