Los Angeles Times editorial board condemns Trump: He is 'uniquely' disqualified to be president

The Los Angeles Times building.
(Image credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Times is the latest major newspaper to join a chorus of editorial boards across the nation in condemning the words and actions of Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.

"Donald Trump is not fit to be president of the United States," the paper's headline blasts, with the editorial board going on to write that the Republicans running against Trump are "more rational, knowledgeable, understandable, and predictable — all of which are necessary (albeit not sufficient) qualities in the Oval Office. Trump's blustery temperament and authoritarian notion of the presidency are unique in the field and uniquely disqualifying."

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It isn't easy to tell how much of Trump's performance is merely shtick and how much is real. In the aftermath of his victories Tuesday, Trump struck a less adversarial tone and talked about how he was "becoming diplomatic." Yet at the same time, he said this of House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), one of several GOP leaders who suggested Trump hadn't disavowed an endorsement by former KKK leader David Duke forcefully enough: "Paul Ryan, I don't know him well, but I'm sure I'm going to get along great with him. And if I don't, he's going to have to pay a big price, OK?" That's about as diplomatic a message as a dead fish wrapped in newspaper.We hope we won't have to learn who the real Donald J. Trump might be. [The Los Angeles Times]

Read the full editorial here.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.