Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich expressed regret that Donald Trump hasn’t acted in a more presidential manner as the presumptive Republican nominee, arguing that a little more “discipline” and “self-restraint” would go a long way as he seeks the nation’s highest office.
Gingrich told Fox News Tuesday afternoon that he wishes Trump were “10 percent more presidential,” adding that he doubts that will happen. He also told host Neil Cavuto that while Trump claims that he could be more presidential but decides against it because he’d be boring, a bit of “boredom” could go a long way and could help him be more of a role model for America’s youth.
“I wish he was about 10 percent more presidential. That’s not his style,” Gingrich told Cavuto. “I have a hunch this is the presidential style we’re going to have to live with if he wins.”
Cavuto then told the 2012 GOP presidential candidate that his “style” includes some “blunt” and “crass” language that turns off religious folks, which Gingrich readily acknowledged.
“It should,” Gingrich responded. “I think the most profound comment I heard — I was on with Rep. Tim Huelskamp from Kansas and he said he doesn’t want to let his nine-year-old son listen to Trump because he’s not sure what Trump’s going to say. And I think that’s something that Donald ought to take seriously.”
“The president of the United States has to be able to communicate with all 315 million Americans, and for younger Americans, he has to be a role model. He has to be somebody they can look up to, and I think we could use a little more discipline and a little more self-restraint in that sense,” Gingrich said. “He claims he’s capable of it. Every once in a while, he’ll say, ‘oh, I could be presidential but you’ll be bored.’ Well, I think a little bit of boredom in terms of certain kinds of language would actually be good because lots of young people take their cues from the president of the United States and I think that it would be helpful for him to do that.”
The former speaker came out and endorsed Trump last week and has been mentioned repeatedly as a possible running mate for the real estate mogul. Last week, Gingrich said that while he doubts he’ll be the choice, he said he would be “very hard pressed” to say no if asked.
