The terrorist attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando that left 49 people dead will boost Republican Donald Trump's chances at the presidency, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol tells
Newsmax TV.
Trump benefits from President Barack Obama's failure to react to radical Islamic terrorism, Kristol said Monday on "The Steve Malzberg Show."
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"The reaction to political correctness leads to Trumpism, which I think is unfortunate though," said Kristol, who is not a supporter of Trump and is
attempting to find a third-party alternative.
"In general I'm not for Trump," Kristol said, "but I suspect an event like this may end up helping Trump" because people will say Democrats appear oblivious to the threat because they fear being labeled politically incorrect.
Though Trump appears to demagogue the issue in his response, Kristol said, "at least he sort of knows there's a threat" and perhaps he will get people around him who understand how to implement the right policies.
"I think people are underestimating Trump's chances in this election," he said. "Trump's got many, many deficiencies. I don't think he should be president, but I got to say you just look at him and you see how people talk themselves into voting Trump."
Trump has addressed other issues, as well, Kristol said. "Are we doing a good job in monitoring what's happening in Muslim communities? What about the question: Does the FBI have constraints put out that shouldn't have been put out?"