Newscast Old Newscast: How Donald Trump Won The Republican Nomination 2016 (Part 2)
Jan 2, 2026
Caitriona Perry, chief presenter for the BBC in Washington, and political reporter Anthony Zurcher, delve into Donald Trump's unconventional journey to the 2016 Republican nomination. They explore how his unique debate style captivated voters while rivals like Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio faltered. The discussion highlights Trump's rallies as crucial tools for refining his message and connecting authentically with supporters. They also touch on the failed attempts by party elites to thwart Trump and the dynamics of the Republican establishment during a tumultuous election.
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Rallies As Real-Time Message Testing
- Donald Trump refined his slogans and style at rallies, using crowd reaction as a live focus group.
- That iterative process made his messaging feel authentic and highly memorable to supporters.
Debates Magnified Trump's Media Dominance
- Debates amplified Trump because he was famous and provided clippable moments that dominated airtime.
- Other candidates attacking each other handed Trump the role of the dominant figure on stage.
Rivals' Reluctance Helped Trump
- Republican candidates avoided being the first to attack Trump for fear of alienating his supporters.
- That restraint allowed Trump to remain unchallenged and keep benefiting from opponents' attacks on each other.