Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump praised former House Speaker Newt Gingrich during a rally Wednesday night, the first time the two campaigned together amid vice presidential chatter.
Throughout his speech in Cincinnati, Trump made multiple mentions of Gingrich, telling supporters after scores chanted “Newt! Newt! Newt!” at one point that Gingrich would be involved “one form or another” in a Trump administration. He also lauded him for being one of the conservatives who “gets it” and has come around to his side, unlike those still in the #NeverTrump crowd.
“I like that too. We like Newt,” Trump said as they chanted the former speaker’s name. “And I’ll tell you what, Newt has been my friend for a long time. And I’m not saying anything, and I’m not even telling Newt anything, but I can tell you in one form or another, Newt Gingrich is going to be involved in our government. That I can tell you. He’s going to be involved.”
“He’s smart. He’s tough,” Trump said before noting one obstacle. “Newt’s going to be involved if I can get approval from his wife.”
Later on in the rally, Trump took aim at the #NeverTrump crowd, poking them once again for not supporting his campaign less than two weeks before the Republican National Convention. For his part, Gingrich himself called on the anti-Trump crowd to come on board during his intro of the presumptive nominee, telling supporters that it’s “about time” Ohio Gov. John Kasich “got on the Trump bandwagon.”
“Now, a lot of conservatives, you know, these characters that have been fighting me … these are people…” Trump said, mocking the the #NeverTrump crowd before turning to Gingrich. “You talk about a great conservative. But he gets it. Some of these people don’t get it.”
“Listen to these people — it sounds like a football game,” Trump said, referring to continuous “Newt!” chants from supporters. “I don’t know, Newt, are they booing or are they saying ‘Newt?’ It’s one of those names! They love Newt!”
“Newt gets it,” Trump continued. “I’ll tell you one thing — I’m not saying it’s Newt, but if it’s Newt, nobody’s going to be beating him in those debates. That’s for sure. Nobody’s beating on Newt in the debates.”
Gingrich has been listed as one of the finalists for the spot along with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who Trump met with over the weekend in New York.
