Van Jones: Donald Trump Is Smarter than Me and All His Critics

CILLIZZA: “How the hell did Donald Trump figure out the mainstream media is the fringe, and the fringe is now the mainstream? How the hell did Donald Trump figure out — I mean, Joe Rogan is obvious, right, like, we knew rhat guy had a big audience, it’s not like we were stunned. But, like, how the hell was he, the 78-year-old guy who doesn’t even have a computer and still, like, writes handwritten notes, how did he become the guy who cracked the code on, to your point, running a cultural — I don’t even want to say campaign. Running a — “
Jones: “It was a movement.”
CILLIZZA: “Movement. Heading a cultural movement versus a campaign.”
Jones: “Every one of your people knows Elon, Elon, Elon. Listen, everybody keeps — I mean the problem is, you have a framework In your mind, ‘How can Donald Trump? How can Donald Trump? How can Donald Trump?’ Guys, can we cut it out? Donald Trump Is not an idiot. Let me just be very clear, Donald Trump is smarter than me, you, and all of his critics. You know how I know? Because he has the White House, the Senate, the House — “
CILLIZZA: “Totally agree.”
Jones: “ — the popular vote. He has a massive media ecosystem bigger than the mainstream built around him and for him, and a religious fervor in a political movement around him. And his best buddy is the richest person in the history of the world, and the most relevant Kennedy is with him. This dude is a phenomenon. He is the most powerful human on earth and in our lifetime And we’re still saying, ‘Well, how is this guy...?’ We look like idiots to ordinary people.”
CILLIZZA: “You are totally right.”