Former GOP powerhouse Newt Gingrich says Donald Trump is capable of winning not only the Republican presidential nomination but also the general election to become the nation's 45th president.
Gingrich, a former House Speaker and one-time presidential candidate, was asked on
ABC News' "This Week" program if the billionaire developer could beat the other Republican presidential candidates to become the nominee.
"Absolutely … I think he also could be the president," Gingrich said to host Martha Raddatz, who followed up by asking how Trump can do it.
Story continues below video.
"Well, first of all, if you're ahead everywhere and you — and your lead is increasing, as it is in Iowa ... among Republicans … I think you might be surprised."
Gingrich, now a political commentator on CNN, was then asked whether Trump's take-no-prisoners approach of blurting out controversial, politically-incorrect statements will hurt the Republican Party.
"I doubt it," Gingrich said.
The Georgia Republican also isn't worried about the Hispanic vote following the ejection of Univision journalist Jorge Ramos from a Trump campaign stop during a verbal battle over Trump's views on immigration.
Ramos, Gingrich said, "is the opponent of Donald Trump. Every night on Univision, he opposes the Republican Party."
"I happen to believe that the United States has both a moral and legal obligation to control its border. I think we have an obligation to stop terrorists," Gingrich said.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.