New York Times columnist Paul Krugman appeared on Bloomberg Television Monday to discuss the appeal of Donald Trump to Republicans, and the Princeton economist pulled no punches.
"He’s a belligerent, loudmouthed racist with not an ounce of compassion for less fortunate people," Krugman argued. "In other words, he’s exactly the kind of person the Republican base consists of and identifies with."
"It’s clear that the very things that Upper West Side New Yorkers find detestable about him are exactly what endear him to the Republican base," he continued. "Which is basically people who see in him everything -- even the big red face and the yelling -- that makes him their kind of guy."
For Krugman, Trump's surge in the polls is just another indication that the Republican Party has lost control of its base. But in the end, he said, the GOP will make the base respect its authority and nominate another bland, quasi-centrist candidate like Mitt Romney.
"We saw the same thing in 2012 — one after another, basically ludicrous candidates, but loudmouthed, angry ludicrous candidates, shot to the top of the polls,” Krugman said.
"But in the end, they nominated Mitt Romney, who on substance was not that different the others. And probably, the same thing will happen this time around, with Jeb Bush playing that role."
Watch the entire interview via Bloomberg TV below.
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