Donald Trump, in a remarkable break with his characteristically unapologetic style, acknowledged Thursday that he has sometimes said “the wrong thing” and said he regretted some of his controversial statements.
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In a highly uncharacteristic move aimed at resetting his struggling campaign, Donald Trump says for the first time he regrets some of the caustic comments he’s made that may have caused people pain.
“You don’t choose the right words or you say the wrong things”, he told supporters at a rally at the Charlotte Convention Center. “Too much is at stake for us to be consumed with these issues”, he said.
He added: “But one thing I can promise you, is this: I will always tell you the truth”.
Meanwhile, Bannon, who had previously worked as the executive chairman of alt-right news and opinion site Breitbart News, did not make any public comments Thursday, signaling that Conway could emerge as the new merry face of the Trump campaign while the former Breitbart chief pulls strings behind the scenes.
“Forty one per cent of registered voters say if the election were held today they would support Clinton or lean toward Clinton, 37 per cent back Trump, 10 percent favour (Libertarian candidate Jill) Johnson and four percent back (Green Party nominee Jill) Stein”, the Pew Research Center said in its findings. He’s struggled to offer voters a consistent message, overshadowing formal policy speeches with a steady stream of controversies, including a public feud with an American Muslim family whose son was killed while serving in the USA military in Iraq. The Republican nominee tapped Stephen Bannon – a combative conservative media executive with no presidential campaign experience – to serve as CEO of his White House bid.
It was a rare admission for Trump, who has said he prefers “not to regret anything”.
The New York businessman’s campaign reserved television ad space over the coming 10 days in Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to Kantar Media’s political ad tracker. Party loyalists have grown increasingly frustrated with Trump’s inability to stay focused on Democrat Hillary Clinton amid a series of self-created distractions. Wednesday’s announcements came less than three months before Election Day, and roughly six weeks before early voting begins.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign dismissed Trump’s words Thursday night.
“What do you have to lose by trying something new?” he asked.
Trump’s expressed regrets mark a sharp turn from his strategy of admitting no fault, going back to the start of his campaign 14 months ago. “We learned tonight that his speech writer and teleprompter knows he has much for which he should apologize”, said Christina Reynolds from the Clinton Campaign.
Weary Republican leaders are accepting Donald Trump’s latest staff shake-up, hopeful that a new leadership team can reverse the NY businessman’s struggles even as some worry it’s too little too late. “But that apology tonight is simply a well-written phrase until he tells us which of his many offensive, bullying and divisive comments he regrets and changes his tune altogether”, she said. She came to this rally and was seen handing out flowers and conversing with Trump supporters.
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At this stage in the presidential race, Mr. Trump seems much less likely to be interested than Ms. Clinton in focusing on the congressional races than on his own slipping presidential prospects. Conway said her rise to campaign manager showed Trump valued a more policy-driven approach that would appeal to women and independent voters.
