From the outside, it may seem like a pairing of convenience. But the political love affair between billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump and former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been in the making for several years. To wit:
Palin backs Trump’s birther claims against Obama
In an interview with Fox News in April 2011, Palin backed Trump’s questioning of the authenticity of President Barack Obama’s birth certificate.
“I respect what he’s doing in putting his money where his mouth is,” Palin told Greta Van Susteren. “He’s actually investigating his speculation there on Obama’s birth certificate and Obama’s college records and all those things that Obama, though he promises to be a transparent official, he certainly isn’t because he could certainly reveal many of these documents and put many of these issues to rest.”
Trump says he would “love” for Palin to run for president
In June 2011, Palin took her bus tour to Manhattan and had a meeting over pizza with The Donald.
The pair talked politics and praised each other.
“What do we have in common? Our love for this country, a desire to see our economy put back on the right track,” Palin told reporters outside the Trump Tower. She added they both also agree on having “a balanced trade arrangement with other countries across this world so Americans can have our jobs, our industries, our manufacturing again.”
At the time, Trump had just decided not to run for president and was asked whether he would support Palin if she chose to run.
“She didn’t ask me for that. She came up as friends,” Trump said. “She’s a great woman, a terrific woman and a terrific friend. I’d love her to run.”
Palin said that she and Trump share “love for this country, (and) a desire to see our economy put back on the right track.”
Palin declined to criticize Trump’s comments on McCain
While Republicans and Democrats alike aggressively criticized Trump recently for questioning Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain’s military heroism, Palin — who was McCain’s running mate during his 2008 presidential bid — declined to knock Trump’s comments.
Instead, she characterized them as a “media-driven wedge” and called on the two Republicans to resolve their issues.
“I have the good fortune of knowing both John McCain and Donald Trump well,” Palin told CNN in an email. “Both men have more in common than the today’s media hype would have you believe. Both blazed trails in their careers and love our great nation.”
Palin calls Trump a ‘hero’
While Palin had high praise for McCain because he “dedicated his life to serving our country,” she added that “putting it all on the line to defend freedom IS heroic — and Donald Trump is a hero in another arena.”
The feud between Trump and McCain was sparked when McCain referred to those who showed at at a Trump rally “crazies” and Palin seemed to take issue with his language.
“Everywhere I go, hard-working patriotic Americans — not ‘crazies’ or ‘wacko birds’ — ask me to pass on to Mr. Trump encouragement to keep educating the masses about true ramifications of illegal immigration, and in general the real state of our union,” Palin wrote.
Trump calls in to 24-hour Palin news station
The real estate mogul went on “The Palin Update” on Monday, which is a radio show that airs on none other than Mama Grizzly Radio, a station that offers 24-hour news updates about Palin and issues related to her.
As Palin super fans listened, Trump praised the former Alaska governor and said that her voice still resonates with voters.
“I still have people saying, ‘Get Sarah’s support! Get Sarah’s support!’ No matter where I go,” Trump said. “Everybody loves her.”
Trump says he would “love” to put Palin in his cabinet
Trump told Mama Grizzly radio Monday that he would even consider appointing Palin to the cabinet of a Trump administration.
“I’d love that,” said Trump, when asked if he would consider Palin. “Because she really is somebody who knows what’s happening and she’s a special person. She’s really a special person and I think people know that.”
However, Trump didn’t specify what position he might have in mind for Palin.
“I’m looking at some of these candidates, they’re weak, they’re ineffective and to a degree that’s almost hard to believe. And, you know, they like the Sarah Palin kind of strength. You just don’t see very much of it anymore,” Trump said.
Trump says Palin handles social media haters well
Trump said that Palin knows what it’s like to have so many haters on social media — just like he does.
“Now she has, like me, some people that don’t exactly love us and we understand who they are and you sort of forget about that,” Trump said Monday on Mama Grizzly radio.
“(Palin) took so much nonsense, lies and disgusting lies, and she handles it so well,” Trump said.
Trump hires former Palin aide
The Trump campaign announced on Thursday the hiring of Michael Glassner, who is a former chief of staff for Palin’s PAC.
Glassner will serve as the campaign’s national political director.
“In addition to our great success in all the recent national polls, we have built a great team, ultimately driven by my message to Make America Great Again and Mr. Glassner will certainly be an asset to us as we further cement our dominance in the 2016 GOP field,” Trump said in a statement.
Palin writes op-ed slamming Trump critics
Palin penned an op-ed Friday for the conservative Breitbart news site, slamming Trump’s critics and writing that “The elites are shocked by Trump’s dominance, but everyday Americans aren’t.”
“Trump diagnoses our problems as incompetent leadership. Who can argue with that? How many politicians promised to secure our borders? So, why aren’t they secured?” Palin wrote.
She also said that “everyday Americans” support Trump because he’s not a politician.
“There’s hope the guy who wrote ‘The Art of the Deal’ can finally close the deal on all the broken promises of career politicians. Maybe the man who actually builds things, big things, can rebuild America’s entrepreneurial spirit with government put back in its proper place,” she wrote.
Palin also knocked Trump’s critics: “It’s no surprise pundits and politicos are determined to destroy a candidacy they can’t control or shape with their mere words. Expect marginalization of anyone speaking well of Trump’s efforts,” adding that “The GOP establishment would do well to listen” to Trump supporters “and quit dismissing them.”
