Trump’s So ‘Impressed’ With Perry That He Forgets the GOP Fave’s Name… and Talks Up an Independent Bid

Trump’s So ‘Impressed’ With Perry That He Forgets the GOP Fave’s Name… and Talks Up an Independent Bid

Trump’s So ‘Impressed’ With Perry That He Forgets the GOP Fave’s Name… and Talks Up an Independent Bid

Republicans are all excited about the Texas governor’s presidential bid. But they don’t know much about the man—as evidenced by Donald Trump’s celebration of his meeting with ”Jim Perry.’

Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky
Pocket
Email

Rick Perry is the GOP flavor of the month.

He’s topping the polls, pulling in the money and getting talked up as the presidential candidate Republicans were waiting for.

But, like most Americans, most Repubicans and Republican-leaning voters know very little about the man. According to the latest Gallup Poll, a quarter of Republicans still do not recognize Perry’s name, even though he now leads most GOP polls.

That was evident when Perry travelled to New York City to seek the blessing of Donald Trump, a briefly serious Republican presidential prospect who has repositioned himself as a kingmaker—or, at least, someone who would like to think of himself as a kingmaker.

Perry wasn’t the first Republican contender, or potential contender, who has made the pilgrimage to Trump’s side. Trump has a meeting set with Mitt Romney, and he has already chatted with Michele Bachmann. And he even took Sarah Palin out for pizza.

So what did the businessman think of the Texan.

“Terrific guy!” he says of Perry.

“I had dinner last night with Jim Perry,” Trump informed The Street Network. “I was impressed with him.”

Not impressed enough to remember the governor’s name—or, presumably, Perry’s positions on the issues.

But impressed.

As always, however, Trump is most impressed with himself.

He says that “if the Republicans pick the wrong candidate, and that could happen, and if the economy continues to be bad—which I’m almost sure will happen because we have very poor leadership—I would certainly think of running as an independent.”

No word yet on whether Jim Perry is the “wrong candidate.”

Time is running out to have your gift matched 

In this time of unrelenting, often unprecedented cruelty and lawlessness, I’m grateful for Nation readers like you. 

So many of you have taken to the streets, organized in your neighborhood and with your union, and showed up at the ballot box to vote for progressive candidates. You’re proving that it is possible—to paraphrase the legendary Patti Smith—to redeem the work of the fools running our government.

And as we head into 2026, I promise that The Nation will fight like never before for justice, humanity, and dignity in these United States. 

At a time when most news organizations are either cutting budgets or cozying up to Trump by bringing in right-wing propagandists, The Nation’s writers, editors, copy editors, fact-checkers, and illustrators confront head-on the administration’s deadly abuses of power, blatant corruption, and deconstruction of both government and civil society. 

We couldn’t do this crucial work without you.

Through the end of the year, a generous donor is matching all donations to The Nation’s independent journalism up to $75,000. But the end of the year is now only days away. 

Time is running out to have your gift doubled. Don’t wait—donate now to ensure that our newsroom has the full $150,000 to start the new year. 

Another world really is possible. Together, we can and will win it!

Love and Solidarity,

John Nichols 

Executive Editor, The Nation

Ad Policy
x