Almost a week after president-elect Donald Trump shocked many around the world with his U.S. election win, his long-time friend, Conrad Black, remains unsurprised.
âI just didnât drink the Kool-Aid on the other side,â Black told BNNâs Jon Erlichman in an interview on Monday. âI knew his appeal was stronger than the conventional wisdom accepted that it was.â
Black cited the enormous support Trump earned during the Republican primaries as an early indication of the billionaire businessmanâs popularity. He said Trump managed to increase voter turnout for the Republican primaries by 60 per cent from four years ago.
Black also believes that, despite reports Trump was shocked by the election outcome, the Republican candidate had really expected to win.
The real Donald Trump
Black said he had trouble marrying the controversial, public persona Trump displayed during the campaign with the man he knows personally.
âThe real Donald Trump is not such an absurd character and not so bombastic,â Black said. âHeâs certainly not a self-effacing man, but heâs quite presentable.â
The âreal Trumpâ according to Black, is the subdued man who appeared before supporters to deliver his victory speech hours after polls closed.
âHe spoke in a quiet voice, quite amusingly, not at all self-importantly and it was rather suave,â Black said. âThat is him. Heâs a great raconteur.â
Black said Trump has a clear mandate when it comes to reforms for campaign financing, taxes, immigration, political correctness, education, employment and national security. He described Trumpâs plans as a âmoderate program.â
Trumpâs relationship with Canada
Black said he isnât concerned about potential friction between Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
âTheyâre both affable people. I think theyâll get on very well,â Black said.
He said there may be a few areas of contention between the two leaders when it comes to certain policies, such as climate change, that will have to be managed carefully, however. Black also mentioned the Keystone XL pipeline proposal and the softwood lumber dispute as other issues the two countries will have to address.
Trump has been very vocal about his opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and his plans to make changes to the deal. Black said this position shouldnât be misinterpreted as an insult to Canada.
âI think itâs clear that Donald Trump doesnât have a problem with Canada. When he attacks NAFTA, heâs not attacking Canada-U.S. free trade,â he clarified.