Donald Trump talked about his conversion to Republican politics on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania on Friday.
Trump told Pennsylvanians that next month’s election represented their last chance to avoid wrecking the country, and sought to remind them that he didn’t need to run so they better reward him with their votes.
“I didn’t need to do this, believe me, this is work,” Trump said, before pointing blame at the press. “I’m getting piled on by these dishonest people like nobody ever.”
He continued, “So I didn’t need to do it and don’t forget I was on the other side. I was on the other side at the highest level, but I saw what was happening and I said this is never going to work. We’re going to lose our country if we keep going and doing what they’re doing. And I came over to this side and I love this side because we’ve created a movement that’s never ever been created before in this country.”
Trump’s self-professed love for his following as the reason for his involvement in politics is a departure from previous GOP presidential nominees’ rhetoric. Other Republican politicians who have become the GOP’s leaders often point to principles, policies or historical figures who changed the politicians’ points of view.
Trump’s own running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, has described his transition from a President Kennedy-loving Democrat to a conservative Republican as a consequence of living through the Reagan era.
