New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said Sunday that former President Donald J. Trump “absolutely contributed” to the insurrection and that Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election were “absolutely egregious.” , said there was nothing, not even a felony conviction. The economy, border security, and “cultural change” are more important and will prevent them from voting for Trump.
In an interview on ABC News' “This Week,” Sununu criticized Trump critics for supporting Nikki Haley in the Republican primary, saying that Trump is “worried about prison time” and “is not a true Republican.” '', introducing the change in Mr. Trump. loyal infantry.
It's a shift that has been repeated many times within the Republican Party, and Sununu predicted while campaigning for Haley in January that she would support Trump if she won the nomination. Stated.
“No one should be surprised by my support,” he said Sunday. “I think the real argument is that the American people are turning away from Biden. That's how bad Biden has become as a president. There's no doubt about that, right? You can't ignore inflation. We can't ignore the border and say these issues in the courts will be the only thing that brings Biden back into office.”
Interviewer George Stephanopoulos asked Sununu on January 6 why he supported a man he said had “contributed to the rebellion.”
Sununu asserted that he still believes that. But he said it shouldn't surprise anyone that a Republican governor would support a Republican candidate, given that he believes concerns about democracy and felony convictions could sway voters. , suggested that Mr. Stephanopoulos may be out of touch with public opinion.
“Do you think a president who contributed to the insurrection should be president again?” Stephanopoulos asked.
“George, so do 51 percent of America,” Sununu said. “I mean, really. I understand that you're part of the media, and I understand that you're in the middle of the New York City bubble and whatever it is, but what's going on in this country as a whole? I have to look around to see if there are any.”
He added, “It's not just about supporting Trump. It's about getting rid of what we have today. It's about understanding that inflation is crushing families. This border issue is a Texas problem. This is about the kind of elitism that average Americans are tired of, and it's a culture change. That’s what I support.”
Inflation has fallen significantly from its 2022 peak, but was higher than expected in a report released last week.
Sununu said Americans' desire for “cultural change,” a term the president used eight times but never specifically defined, led to Trump's efforts to overturn the election and the first trial. He said it outweighed his concerns about the four criminal trials Trump faces. this week.
Sununu said Trump wasn't what he wanted as the Republican nominee, but “I'll accept it if necessary.” “That's how much America wants a cultural change.”
Mr. Stephanopoulos pushed back again.
“The bottom line is you would support him as a presidential candidate even if he was convicted on classified documents,” he said. “You support him as a presidential candidate even though you believe he contributed to the insurrection. You support him as a presidential candidate even though you believe he lied about the last election. I'm supporting him as a presidential candidate. Even if he were convicted in Manhattan, you would support him as a presidential candidate. I'm just saying, the answer is yes, right? ”
“Yes,” Sununu said. “Me and 51 percent of the American people.”
