Changes

On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015).  Fox News website/Politics. The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate.  Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015).  [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"].  But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women.  This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.</ref> Unlike most other U.S presidential candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch.  For example, Trump stands up against [[feminists]], unlike most politicians. In another example, in 2011 Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], which caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate.  Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015).  Fox News website/Politics. The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate.  Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015).  [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"].  But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women.  This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.</ref> Unlike most other U.S presidential candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch.  For example, Trump stands up against [[feminists]], unlike most politicians. In another example, in 2011 Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], which caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate.  Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

In February 2011, Trump announced that he is [[pro-life]].<ref>But on August 11, 2015, he indicated that he might support taxpayer funding of [[Planned Parenthood]] for its non-[[abortion]] activities (which builds its brand and funds its overhead).</ref> During the campaign for the Republican nomination, Trump called for women who had [[abortion]]s to be punished for doing so. He quickly flip-flopped on that statement, saying instead that doctors who provide abortions should be punished, not the women who have them. <ref>[https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/donald-j.-trump-statement-regarding-abortion Donald Trump press release]</ref>. He later asserted that there should be no federal ban on abortions. <ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/01/politics/donald-trump-abortion-laws/index.html]</ref>

In February 2011, Trump announced that he is [[pro-life]].<ref>But on August 11, 2015, he indicated that he might support taxpayer funding of [[Planned Parenthood]] for its non-[[abortion]] activities (which builds its brand and funds its overhead).</ref> During the campaign for the Republican nomination, Trump called for women who had [[abortion]]s to be punished for doing so. He quickly flip-flopped on that statement, saying instead that doctors who provide abortions should be punished, not the women who have them. <ref>[https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/donald-j.-trump-statement-regarding-abortion Donald Trump press release]</ref>. He later asserted that there should be no federal ban on abortions. <ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/01/politics/donald-trump-abortion-laws/index.html]"Trump says federal laws should not be changed to outlaw abortion," CNN.com, 1 April 2016.</ref>

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]], and he enlisted Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as an adviser on this issue.  As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"].  Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> However, in recent months, Trump has focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]], and he enlisted Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as an adviser on this issue.  As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"].  Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> However, in recent months, Trump has focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.