The second congressman to endorse Donald J. Trump for president told reporters Thursday that he is no longer commenting on the presumptive nominee and it does not surprise him or bother him that Trump does not meet personally with his congressional supporter.
“I am done with trying to articulate or explain or answer for what Donald Trump says,” said Rep. Duncan Hunter (R.-Calif.).
“I think he’ll make a great president,” said the Marine officer and combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. “I think he’ll make good decisions on the economy, on the border, on national security–doesn’t mean I endorse what he says.”
What Trump says and what he does are two different things, said the congressman from suburban San Diego.
“Him talking about things and saying things about things are different from him saying what he is going to do,” he said. “I think he’ll do what he says he’s going to do–I am not trying to parse words–I think he’ll do what he says he’s going to do, but, he says things about things that I don’t endorse and I am not going to try to articulate for him.”
The congressman son of a congressman said he accepts that Trump is the boss and when he tells Republicans on Capitol Hill to “shut up,” he understands.
“It is not my job to answer for Donald Trump,” he said. “I am not even a surrogate. I am just an endorser.”