--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Trump declared his candidacy for…" description: "\"“When Trump declared his candidacy for real in 2015, I thought it was another joke, like a lot of people did. By then, he’d remade himself from tabloid..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_candidacy_when-trump-declared-his-candidacy-for-re_2551118.jpg" --- # When Trump declared his candidacy for real in 2015, I… ![“When Trump declared his candidacy for real in 2015, I thought it was another joke, like a lot of people did. By then, he’d remade himself from tabloid scoundrel into right-wing crank, with his long, offensive, quixotic obsession with President Obama’s birth certificate. He’d flirted with politics…” quote by Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_candidacy_when-trump-declared-his-candidacy-for-re_2551118.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_candidacy_when-trump-declared-his-candidacy-for-re_2551118.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/237/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_candidacy_when-trump-declared-his-candidacy-for-re_2551118.jpg) > ““When Trump declared his candidacy for real in 2015, I thought it was another joke, like a lot of people did. By then, he’d remade himself from tabloid scoundrel into right-wing crank, with his long, offensive, quixotic obsession with President Obama’s birth certificate. He’d flirted with politics for decades, but it was hard to take him seriously. He reminded me of one of those old men ranting on about how the country was going to hell in a handbasket unless people started listening to him.”” [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Clinton viewed Trump's 2015 candidacy as a joke, noting his transformation from a tabloid figure to a right‑wing provocateur obsessed with conspiracy theories. **In simple terms:** Clinton thought Trump's run was absurd, highlighting his shift to extremist rhetoric. Key Takeaway Recognize when political figures become caricatures rather than serious contenders. Themes politics media perception populism Mood skeptical critical analytical Type political commentary observational When to use this quote - campaign analysis - media critique - voter education Key Concepts conspiracy branding public image Questions to Reflect On - How do media narratives shape public perception of candidates? - What factors turn a "joke" candidacy into a serious movement? A Different Perspective Trump's appeal to a base shows that even mocked candidates can gain traction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Candidacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidacy/) [Candidacy Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidacy-real-1521970/) [Declared Candidacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declared-candidacy-1521973/) [Obsession President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession-president-1521972/) [Old men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-men/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Trump Declared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump-declared-1521971/) ## Related quotes > [“Trump,” she declared, to a multicultural audience at a community college, “is reinforcing harmful stereotypes and offering a dog whistle to his most hateful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/trump-she-declared-to-a-multicultural-audience-at-a-community-college/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [“We are led by very, very stupid people,” Trump declared at a September 9 rally on Capitol Hill. But it didn’t have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/we-are-led-by-very-very-stupid-people-trump-declared-at-a-september-9/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [A colored man is precisely as much entitled to submit his candidacy in a party primary, as is any other citizen. The decision must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/a-colored-man-is-precisely-as-much-entitled-to-submit-his-candidacy/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [I have concluded unequivocally that the right person is Michael Gove and I am delighted to be endorsing his candidacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/i-have-concluded-unequivocally-that-the-right-person-is-michael-gove/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [I think others may look at the uniqueness of my candidacy, the fact that I'm an African-American, conservative tea party Republican, and somehow race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niger-innis/i-think-others-may-look-at-the-uniqueness-of-my-candidacy-the-fact/) [Niger Innis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niger-innis/) > [My candidacy is a compelling argument for my candidacy. I want to be President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/my-candidacy-is-a-compelling-argument-for-my-candidacy-i-want-to-be/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I'm not defending the Trump vote. I think they're making a bad choice. But I'm saying the bad choice isn't one out of pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-lamont-hill/i-m-not-defending-the-trump-vote-i-think-they-re-making-a-bad-choice/) [Marc Lamont Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-lamont-hill/) > [I don't buy the argument that there can't be a successful independent candidacy for the presidency of the United States. People who say, 'It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/i-don-t-buy-the-argument-that-there-can-t-be-a-successful-independent/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [I will build a great, great wall on our southern border. And I will have Mexico pay for that wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-will-build-a-great-great-wall-on-our-southern-border-and-i-will/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Fifteen dollars an hour minimum wage. That was one of the reasons why so many people flocked to Bernie Sanders candidacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/fifteen-dollars-an-hour-minimum-wage-that-was-one-of-the-reasons-why/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [There has always been a thawing-out-of-something-frozen quality to a potential Joe Biden candidacy, an understanding that the man himself might be out of step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/there-has-always-been-a-thawing-out-of-something-frozen-quality-to-a/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) > [If you're running for president, you've got to do a lot of things to line up a candidacy. I've not done any of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/if-you-re-running-for-president-you-ve-got-to-do-a-lot-of-things-to/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [For any kid who feels like a newcomer, who feels like they don't belong, my candidacy says, 'Not only do you belong, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/for-any-kid-who-feels-like-a-newcomer-who-feels-like-they-don-t/) [Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/) > [What I appreciate about WP is that they have very clear processes for candidacy and membership. There is no fast track or parachuting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-seah/what-i-appreciate-about-wp-is-that-they-have-very-clear-processes-for/) [Nicole Seah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-seah/) > [The possibility of my presidential candidacy emerged spontaneously in public opinion polls. For my part, I noticed people's affection when I was doing work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-bachelet/the-possibility-of-my-presidential-candidacy-emerged-spontaneously-in/) [Michelle Bachelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-bachelet/) ## More by Hillary Rodham Clinton > [“Putin has positioned himself as the leader of an authoritarian, xenophobic international movement that wants to expel immigrants, break up the European Union, weaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/putin-has-positioned-himself-as-the-leader-of-an-authoritarian/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“It’s true, though, that we struggled to stay on message. My advisors had to deal with a candidate—me—who often wanted something new to say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/it-s-true-though-that-we-struggled-to-stay-on-message-my-advisors-had/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“He reminded me to focus on the “trendlines,” not just the headlines, and to relish the experiences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/he-reminded-me-to-focus-on-the-trendlines-not-just-the-headlines-and/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“Democrats should reevaluate a lot of our assumptions about which policies are politically viable. These trends make universal programs even more appealing than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/democrats-should-reevaluate-a-lot-of-our-assumptions-about-which/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“You Can't Keep Wild Animal In Your Back Yard And Expect It To Go only After Your Neighbor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/you-can-t-keep-wild-animal-in-your-back-yard-and-expect-it-to-go-only/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“In people’s lives and worldviews, concerns about economics, race, gender, class, and culture all blend together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/in-people-s-lives-and-worldviews-concerns-about-economics-race-gender/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“if you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/if-you-want-to-go-quickly-go-alone-if-you-want-to-go-far-go-together/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“On her very first day, when she politely raised questions about Bernie’s health care plan—she has a master’s degree in public health and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/on-her-very-first-day-when-she-politely-raised-questions-about-bernie/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“Too many saw the world in zero-sum terms, believing that gains made by fellow Americans they viewed as “other”—people of color, immigrants, women, LGBT…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/too-many-saw-the-world-in-zero-sum-terms-believing-that-gains-made-by/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“Usually when I meet people who are frustrated and angry, my instinctive response is to talk about how we can fix things. That’s why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/usually-when-i-meet-people-who-are-frustrated-and-angry-my/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“In the words of Secretary Clinton, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance in the world to pursue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/in-the-words-of-secretary-clinton-never-doubt-that-you-are-valuable/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“To quote Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in the U.S. Cabinet, under FDR, “The accusation that I’m a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/to-quote-secretary-of-labor-frances-perkins-the-first-woman-to-serve/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“While there are few problems in today’s world that the United States can solve alone, there are even fewer that can be solved without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/while-there-are-few-problems-in-today-s-world-that-the-united-states/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“if he knows that the Donald J. Trump Foundation is little more than a personal piggy bank, he’ll turn around and accuse, with no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/if-he-knows-that-the-donald-j-trump-foundation-is-little-more-than-a/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“One of the most important but least recognized facts in American politics is that Republicans tend to win in places where more people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/one-of-the-most-important-but-least-recognized-facts-in-american/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) [Explore all 336 Hillary Rodham Clinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) ## More Candidacy quotes > [The possibility of my presidential candidacy emerged spontaneously in public opinion polls. For my part, I noticed people's affection when I was doing work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-bachelet/the-possibility-of-my-presidential-candidacy-emerged-spontaneously-in/) [Michelle Bachelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-bachelet/) > [What I appreciate about WP is that they have very clear processes for candidacy and membership. There is no fast track or parachuting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-seah/what-i-appreciate-about-wp-is-that-they-have-very-clear-processes-for/) [Nicole Seah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-seah/) > [For any kid who feels like a newcomer, who feels like they don't belong, my candidacy says, 'Not only do you belong, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/for-any-kid-who-feels-like-a-newcomer-who-feels-like-they-don-t/) [Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/) > [If you're running for president, you've got to do a lot of things to line up a candidacy. I've not done any of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/if-you-re-running-for-president-you-ve-got-to-do-a-lot-of-things-to/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [There has always been a thawing-out-of-something-frozen quality to a potential Joe Biden candidacy, an understanding that the man himself might be out of step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/there-has-always-been-a-thawing-out-of-something-frozen-quality-to-a/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) > [Fifteen dollars an hour minimum wage. That was one of the reasons why so many people flocked to Bernie Sanders candidacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/fifteen-dollars-an-hour-minimum-wage-that-was-one-of-the-reasons-why/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [I will build a great, great wall on our southern border. And I will have Mexico pay for that wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-will-build-a-great-great-wall-on-our-southern-border-and-i-will/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I don't buy the argument that there can't be a successful independent candidacy for the presidency of the United States. People who say, 'It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/i-don-t-buy-the-argument-that-there-can-t-be-a-successful-independent/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [I'm not defending the Trump vote. I think they're making a bad choice. But I'm saying the bad choice isn't one out of pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-lamont-hill/i-m-not-defending-the-trump-vote-i-think-they-re-making-a-bad-choice/) [Marc Lamont Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-lamont-hill/) > [My candidacy is a compelling argument for my candidacy. I want to be President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/my-candidacy-is-a-compelling-argument-for-my-candidacy-i-want-to-be/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I think others may look at the uniqueness of my candidacy, the fact that I'm an African-American, conservative tea party Republican, and somehow race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niger-innis/i-think-others-may-look-at-the-uniqueness-of-my-candidacy-the-fact/) [Niger Innis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niger-innis/) > [I have concluded unequivocally that the right person is Michael Gove and I am delighted to be endorsing his candidacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/i-have-concluded-unequivocally-that-the-right-person-is-michael-gove/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [A colored man is precisely as much entitled to submit his candidacy in a party primary, as is any other citizen. The decision must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/a-colored-man-is-precisely-as-much-entitled-to-submit-his-candidacy/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [There are change elections and there are 'more of the same' elections, and there was a lot of economic anxiety in the 1992 election…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-schmidt/there-are-change-elections-and-there-are-more-of-the-same-elections/) [Steve Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-schmidt/) > [ That's an astonishment that we're waiting to find out what the \[Donald Trump\] policy is, that was the central plank, the central rationale for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-goldberg/that-s-an-astonishment-that-we-re-waiting-to-find-out-what-the-donald/) [Michelle Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-goldberg/) [Browse all 51 Candidacy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidacy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When Trump declared his candidacy for real in 2015, I thought it was another joke, like a lot of people did. By then, he’d remade himself from tabloid scoundrel into right-wing crank, with his long, offensive, quixotic obsession with President Obama’s birth certificate. He’d flirted with politics for decades, but it was hard to take him seriously. 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