Orrin Hatch thinks Trump is a 'much better person today' than he was in 2016
Should you find yourself about to criticize President Trump, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) would like you to pause and remember the man Trump used to be.
On Wednesday, one day after Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former personal lawyer Michael Cohen both became convicted felons, Hatch decided to focus instead on Trump being a different person compared to who he was on The Apprentice. "Eight years ago to 10 years ago, Trump was not what I consider to be a pillar of virtue," he told The New York Times. "I think he has changed a lot of his life once he was elected. I think Trump is a much better person today than he was then." He did not elaborate on what led him to come to this conclusion.
Hatch did say he finds that Americans are willing to overlook Trump's flaws because he "comes from a different world. He comes from New York City, he comes from a slam-bang, difficult world. It is amazing he is as good as he is. If anything, you have to give him plaudits for the way he has run the country as president."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
