Former media mogul Conrad Black says Donald Trumpâs rise in the U.S. from political neophyte to Republican presidential nominee is an âamazing achievement.â
Speaking on ŰÎŰ´ŤĂ˝ Channel on Friday, Black said no one âhas ever run a campaign like this,â referring to Trumpâs rise from businessman and reality TV star to a serious candidate who could be elected U.S. president in November.
âWhatever the outcome, what Donaldâs done, itâs an amazing achievement,â Black said.
Black says he is not a âstaunch supporter of Trumpâ but a âdefender against excessive denigrationâ of the Republican presidential nominee.
Trump was âcompletely reviled and ridiculed by virtually everyone as a candidate who had no chance,â Black said.
Now, as the U.S. campaign enters its final three-month stretch, Trump is viewed as a serious threat to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clintonâs bid for the White House.
âTheyâre running even in the polls, there is no split in the Republican party and the Democrats opened their convention by firing their party chairman,â Black said. âItâs going to be a ding-dong battle, this election.â
Black shrugged off former New York City Mayor Michael Bloombergâs criticism of Trumpâs business acumen in a speech at the Democratic National Convention earlier this week. In it, Bloomberg called Trumpâs business plan a âdisaster in the making.â
Black wouldnât âattach much credenceâ to Bloombergâs assertion that Trump will âwreckâ the U.S., he said. He says that if elected, Trump will produce âmore sensible economic policyâ than what the U.S. has seen over the past decade.
Though he finds some of Trumpâs âreflections garish and tasteless,â Black says the presidential candidate is a ânice guy.â
âI will say this, that in the problems I had, he was absolutely loyal, he volunteered to come and give evidence for me, he sent me encouraging letters at every stage,â Black said. âWe all go through difficult times and we remember the people who were helpful.â
However, Black said that he doesnât âidentifyâ with some of Trumpâs comments and âdemonstrations of ill-temperance.â
âItâs not a person I recognize, knowing him as I do, heâs not like that in person,â Black said. âHeâs a very nice guy, and a charming man.â