Bill Clinton called Trump ahead of his 2016 launch

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Washington Post:

Former president Bill Clinton had a private telephone conversation in late spring with Donald Trump at the same time that the billionaire investor and reality-television star was nearing a decision to run for the White House, according to associates of both men.

 

Four Trump allies and one Clinton associate familiar with the exchange said that Clinton encouraged Trump’s efforts to play a larger role in the Republican Party and offered his own views of the political landscape.

 

Clinton’s personal office in New York confirmed that the call occurred in late May, but an aide to Clinton said the 2016 race was never specifically discussed and that it was only a casual chat.

 

The talk with Clinton — the spouse of the Democratic presidential front-runner and one of his party’s preeminent political strategists — came just weeks before Trump jumped into the GOP race and surged to the front of the crowded Republican field.

 

The revelation of the call comes as many Republicans have begun criticizing Trump for his ties to Democrats, including past financial donations to the Clintons and their charitable foundation.

________

 

Well, obviously this means Trump is a Clinton mole...

[Valin]

Bill Clinton offered encouragement as Trump considered running for president

Paul Mirengoff

August 5, 2015

 

Here’s a thought experiment: Suppose during tomorrow’s GOP presidential debate, Megyn Kelly asks each candidate to name the American politician or politicians whom he respects and trusts sufficiently to seek political advice from. What would the nomination prospects be for a candidate who answered: Bill Clinton?

 

Non-existent, I say. And the answer would go down as among the worst gaffes in the long history of presidential debates.

 

(Snip)

 

Clinton never urged Trump to run, but he was “upbeat and encouraging.” He reportedly told Trump that the billionaire was striking a chord with frustrated conservatives and was a rising force on the right.

 

Clinton turned out to be right, which I suppose will be a big part of Trump’s defense if called upon to explain why he turned to Clinton for advice. Whether Clinton fully believed what he told Trump or was spinning on behalf of Hillary’s interests is not clear. At a minimum, though, Bill must have known that Trump had the potential to complicate significantly the GOP race.

 

(Snip)