# The Trump Campaign Promise Walk-Back Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 12, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556 "2016-11-12T00:14:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/1 "2016-11-12T00:14:36Z")
Trump made a lot of promises, some rather outrageous, and his hardcore supporters ate it up. I devote this thread to a discussion of his failure to take the actions he said he would take. (Not that this upsets me in any way; there are a number of things he said he wanted to do that I would rather he did not.) We’re hardly 3 days from the election, and already we’re seeing some deviation from his promises: **1) He said he would “drain the swamp.”** Yet, [he is filling his transition team with Washington insiders:](http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/10/politics/donald-trump-transition-drain-the-swamp/index.html) > [@](#): > > Leaders in his transition include former Rep. Mike Rogers, former Reagan Attorney General and Heritage Foundation fellow Edwin Meese, former President of Heritage Edwin Feulner, former Bush administration official and lobbyist Christine Ciccone, former Dick Cheney adviser Ado Machida, former Senate Budget Committee staffer Eric Ueland and Sen. Jeff Sessions’ former chief of staff Rick Dearborn. The effort is chaired by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Trump counts former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Sessions as close advisers. **2) He promised to lock up Hilary Clinton.** Yet [Chris Christie is now backing away from that assertion.](http://www.app.com/story/news/politics/new-jersey/chris-christie/2016/11/10/christie-says-trump-not-prosecute-clinton/93583546/) > [@](#): > > Governor Christie indicated Thursday that president-elect Donald Trump will not keep one of his campaign promises that the governor himself made one of the most memorable lines of the 2016 election: prosecuting Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. > > Trump had promised to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Clinton’s use of private email while she was Secretary of State, and Christie captivated the audience at the Republican National Convention last summer leading a call and response that included chants of “lock her up.” > > But that was politics, Christie said Thursday morning on the “Today” show, his first national interview since Trump defeated Clinton in the presidential election. What will we see next? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/2 "2016-11-12T00:21:05Z")
While I am pretty sure he will be tough on immigration policy (real immigration reform would be a good thing), I don’t think we are going to see him having a giant wall built. Even if he does, I am confident that Mexico isn’t going to be the one that pays for it. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/3 "2016-11-12T00:22:51Z")
I’m on my phone, so it’s hard to do links, but one of his senior foreign policy advisors said that he’d review the Iran peace treaty before suggesting changes, and would only support moving the Israeli embassy if there is consensus (there isn’t). Trump also said he liked parts of Obamacare. Specifically, its fundamental plank - insurance companies can’t exclude you for a pre-existing condition. And he supports kids staying on their parents’ plan until 25. Also, Gingrich has already said there’d be no wall. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/4 "2016-11-12T00:23:21Z")
The Muslim ban is gone from his website. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/5 "2016-11-12T00:24:47Z")
I know it was a chant and all, but he didn’t exactly promise to lock her up. He was calling for another investigation. Nitpick aside, yeah he’s walking that back. The “wall” is also going to make the list. He’ll make some show of beefing up border security but no wall is getting built. From polling and interviews I’ve seen, that should mostly be fine with his supporters. He’ll probably dance around and stall on any NAFTA movement if not explicitly “walk back”. Maybe blame lack of progress on congress. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/6 "2016-11-12T00:26:03Z")
I seriously doubt he’s tearing up NAFTA either, since he needs Congress for that. Don’t be surprised when he quietly signs off on TPP after the inauguration, either. He’s a businessman who likely understands the appeal of open trade. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/7 "2016-11-12T00:55:17Z")
I suspect most of the things he promised will be forgotten or drastically scaled back. He will undoubtedly load SCOTUS with as many hardline conservatives as he can. But I think failing to go after Clinton and not building the wall will be the first things that will piss off his supporters. When/if they realize he has stacked his administration with insiders and lobbyists who will never allow him to “drain the swamp” well, the shit will really hit the fan. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/8 "2016-11-12T00:59:02Z")
Apparently after meeting Obama and actually learning what Obamacare was, he’s starting to re-think repealing it. At least the parts of it Obama explained to him. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/9 "2016-11-12T01:06:43Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Apparently after meeting Obama and actually learning what Obamacare was, he’s starting to re-think repealing it. At least the parts of it Obama explained to him. That, or maybe something on the lines of “several million people cut off from their coverage and baying for your head on a pike”. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/10 "2016-11-12T02:38:55Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I know it was a chant and all, but he didn’t exactly promise to lock her up. He was calling for another investigation. This seems exact to me: [I will say this, Hillary Clinton has got to go to jail](http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/02/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-imprisoned/) You are right that he also called for an investigation. He’s promised an investigation with a predetermined outcome, and he’s promised she will be locked up. Normal [presidents keep most of their campaign promises](http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trust-us-politicians-keep-most-of-their-promises/). While the jury is out on whether con-artist presidents keep most of their campaign promises, I’m thinking – maybe. Trump’s most consequent promises, from where I sit, are to destroy ISIS (Clinton also pledged that), take the oil, and utilize torture that’s [a hell of a lot worse](http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/268530-trump-calls-for-hell-of-a-lot-worse-than-waterboarding) than waterboarding. I would love for him to walk this back. Perhaps he’ll procrastinate on his three biggest-to-me, repeatedly made, promises. If so, I’m afraid that some ISIL-wannabe will commit a massacre on American soil to remind the Donald, and he will fulfill all three. Yes, I know, ISIS doesn’t have oil fields. Unfortunately, a US general who explains that to the Donald may not last long. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/11 "2016-11-12T02:47:49Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > That, or maybe something on the lines of “several million people cut off from their coverage and baying for your head on a pike”. Trump and the GOP won’t care. It’s a Basket of Disposables. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/12 "2016-11-12T04:22:25Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Trump and the GOP won’t care. It’s a Basket of Disposables. I have a hope (because that’s all I have right now) that Trump’s insecure narcissism will make him obsessed with his poll numbers, and therefore loathe to take actions that leave people in a lurch. He’s never been this publicly accountable before, so his response to constant criticism is uncharted territory for him. I like to think that Obama sat him down and told him that he will literally have the fate of millions of people in his hands every day, and that each decision he makes will be twisted and distorted so that tens of millions of people hate him and thousands actually want to kill him. Later, he got a tongue lashing from Mitch McConnell, who corrected any misapprehnsions that Donald might have had about going off on his own with his own ideas. Trump looked positively shell shocked by the end of the day. I fully realize that Trump, like Dark Helmet, will be surrounded by assholes, so it’s not going to be anything like Obama gave us, but he could be another Reagan: old guy who didn’t like to read and let his underlings pull the levers of power while he focused on shaking hands. I expect the Republican tropes : anti abortion judges, tax cuts for corporations and high wage earners, dismantling of environmental protections. But I think that the populist promises are long gone. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/13 "2016-11-12T04:49:40Z")
Trump is a con man. If we’re going to try to figure out who Trump really is politically, my best guess given his history and his closest political allies is that he has a lot more in common with Giuliani and Christie than with Tea Partiers. If we’re lucky, what we’ll see over the next four years will just be a louder version of what a Giuliani administration would have looked like had he won in 2008. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/14 "2016-11-12T05:01:54Z")
How much do Democrats want to put his feet to the fire on how he is breaking his campaign promises, and actually push him into starting to deport immigrants and throw Clinton into jail? ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/15 "2016-11-12T05:11:08Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > How much do Democrats want to put his feet to the fire on how he is breaking his campaign promises, and actually push him into starting to deport immigrants and throw Clinton into jail? I don’t think Democrats will raise the issue. But some percentage of his supporters do expect these things to happen. Remember, per his rousing acceptance speech, change comes Day One. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/16 "2016-11-12T05:22:28Z")
Democrats will probably welcome Trump behaving more reasonably, although they will use it against him in four years, as they should. Completely misrepresenting yourself in order to get elected should not be rewarded. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/17 "2016-11-12T12:10:24Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > **1) He said he would “drain the swamp.”** > Yet, [he is filling his transition team with Washington insiders:](http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/10/politics/donald-trump-transition-drain-the-swamp/index.html) In fairness, he said he’d drain it; he didn’t mention what he’d fill it back up with. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/18 "2016-11-12T12:15:29Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > In fairness, he said he’d drain it; he didn’t mention what he’d fill it back up with. There’s a RNC senior strategist on CNN trying to spin this as going where the experience is. At least this one isn’t a long-haired blond. What Trump doesn’t realize is you can’t drain a swamp without damming the stream that feeds it. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/19 "2016-11-12T12:55:04Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > I don’t think Democrats will raise the issue. But some percentage of his supporters do expect these things to happen. Remember, per his rousing acceptance speech, change comes Day One. And true to his word, he’s already changing tack on his running platform. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556/20 "2016-11-12T13:08:29Z")
Trump is living through the best time of his life. It’s far from surprising he would at such a time be conciliatory. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-campaign-promise-walk-back-thread/771556.md?page=2)