Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol called Donald Trump's election "a big surprise victory," but warned that conservatives will still have a role in his term, asserting, "I don't think it's Donald Trump's party."
In an interview Thursday with MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell, Kristol, who had been fiercely critical of Trump – declaring in July the GOP was in the grip of a "vulgar demagogue" – told Mitchell, "We all have an interest in his success."
"I don't think it's Donald Trump's party," he added. "He had a big surprise victory. Congratulations to him. But it's the Republican Party."
"And conservatives, Republicans and Democrats, incidentally, have an important role to play in Congress and outside in supporting Donald Trump where he's right, encouraging him to do the right thing, checking him and opposing him where he's wrong," he continued.
"So I think it's an interesting moment where everyone shouldn't just fall in line but everyone shouldn't just oppose in a knee-jerk way either."
Kristol also said he "would encourage my Never Trump friends to be open-minded about a Trump administration and willing to help. I've talked to a couple of Republican senators, congressmen, they have a huge role to play."
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