WASHINGTON — Republican Donald Trump insists that he's not flip-flopping when it comes to his proposal to deport the estimated 11 million people living in the United States illegally — even though his new campaign manager now says his stance is "to be determined."
Trump said in an interview with Fox & Friends on Monday that he's "not flip-flopping," but wants to come up with "a really fair, but firm" solution.
Trump had previously proposed using a "deportation force" to remove the 11 million people living in the United States illegally— a proposal that excited many of his core supporters, but alienated Hispanic voters who could be pivotal in key states. Republican leaders fear that Trump can't win — and could drag down GOP congressional candidates — if he doesn't increase his support beyond his white, male base.
Trump met Saturday with Hispanic supporters, representatives of a community that has been wary of the billionaire businessman's deportation proposals and his plans to build a giant wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Questioned on whether Trump still intends to deploy the deportation force, campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said Sunday: "To be determined."
Trump's comments come as Republican officials insist the GOP nominee is finally hitting his stride and will catch up with Democrat Hillary Clinton by early September, following a major shake-up to his campaign. Polls now mostly show Trump lagging Clinton by 5 percentage points or more nationally.
"Donald Trump has been disciplined and mature. And I think he's going to get this thing back on track," Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman, said Sunday.
Conway echoed Priebus' optimism, contending that the candidate just had the best week of his campaign, "mostly because he's able to be himself, the authentic Donald Trump."
Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.