Buchanan: ‘Political Establishment’ Wants to Drive Trump From the Race

Columnist and former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan declared, “the political establishment is appalled by Trump and frightened by Trump, and they want to basically drive him out of the race” on Friday’s “McLaughlin Group.”

Buchanan stated, “I think Trump was badly served [in the coverage of his comments about Senator John McCain (R-AZ) here. Look, he never said he was not a hero. He said, [paraphrasing] ‘Well, he got captured,’ he made a foolish, inartful statement, then four times he said he was a hero, and the press jumped on him, and said he’s got to get out of the race. Other Republicans got to get out of the race. He’s a figure in disgrace. And he defied them, and all week long, he’s gotten bigger crowds than anyone. The country knows what’s being done here, which is the political establishment is appalled by Trump, and frightened by Trump, and they want to basically drive him out of the race, John. And the vast — or not the majority, but a big plurality of Americans, or a large number of Americans, want to see him in the race, and he’s doing very well.”

He added, “Again, no one denies that McCain served his country honorably, and well, and went through hell, as did those other POWs. My point is, Trump did not say he was not a hero, and secondly, why are people using this incident [from] a week ago? They keep pounding him and pounding him and pounding him, but that’s to drive him out of the race –.” And “Look, everybody knows he shouldn’t have said that about McCain. He didn’t say he wasn’t a hero. But, what gets me is, why are people still trying to drive this guy out of the race, it’s because of what he’s saying about the border, what he’s saying about trade, what he’s saying about the political establishment.”

Later, Buchanan said of a border fence “I don’t think he’s going to get the Mexicans to pay for it,” but that he believes Trump will build one.

Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett

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