#NeverTrump Ringleader Bill Kristol Softens Hard Line: ‘Never Say Never’ (VIDEO)

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

After months as a leading voice of the #NeverTrump movement to block the Republican presidential frontrunner, Bill Kristol said “never say never” about him backing presumptive nominee Donald Trump.

When Newsmax TV’s Steve Malzberg asked if Trump could win Kristol over, he replied, “For me, it’s more a matter of character.”

“I don’t know that you can change your character at age 69, and given the things he’s said even very recently about other people, the way he demeans other people,” Kristol said. “But I mean, I guess never say never. On the one hand, I’ll say never Trump, and on the other hand, I’ll say never say never and I’ll leave it ambiguous.”

Kristol later played his remarks off as a joke on Twitter.

The comment was a marked departure from Kristol’s frequent criticism of Trump. The Weekly Standard editor was prominently featured in the National Review’s splashy Never Trump issue and has frequently tweeted his disdain for the real estate mogul and his supporters.

Watch Kristol’s remarks via Newsmax TV:

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for bdtex bdtex says:

    Integrity is in very short supply on the right.

  2. OF COURSE, he caves…it’s what he has ALWAYS done…they have no integrity…they just talk about it.

  3. “come to think of it, shit sandwiches really are not that bad after all! They just kind of look funny at first!”

  4. Malzberg has to have one of the most repugnant mugs known to man.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

40 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for marby Avatar for mmurdoch Avatar for sysprog Avatar for fargo116 Avatar for nellieh Avatar for sconosciuto Avatar for carlosfiance Avatar for mantan Avatar for clearwater Avatar for sherlock1 Avatar for martinstett Avatar for ignoreland Avatar for pb Avatar for quax Avatar for okicu Avatar for tao Avatar for serendipitoussomnambulist Avatar for riverstreet Avatar for pshah Avatar for wagonmound Avatar for clauscph Avatar for jordanolsen26

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: