{"id":2618008,"date":"2026-06-23T18:33:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T22:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/roger-stone-asked-trump-to-run-for-president-in-1988\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T18:34:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T22:34:30","slug":"roger-stone-asked-trump-to-run-for-president-in-1988","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/roger-stone-asked-trump-to-run-for-president-in-1988\/","title":{"rendered":"Roger Stone asked Trump to run for president in 1988"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Froger-stone-asked-trump-to-run-for-president-in-1988%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2618008&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Roger Stone recounted urging Donald Trump to run for president as early as 1988, believing trump had the leadership qualities needed to lead the nation long before his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-commerce-secretary-is-a-former-venture-capitalist-but-some-gopers-warn-shell-be-soft-on-china\/\" title=\"Biden...s Commerce Secretary Is A Former Venture Capitalist, But Some GOPers Warn She...ll Be \u2018Soft On China...\">political career began<\/a>. Stone, who advised Trump during his 2016 campaign, shared on Sean hannity&#8217;s podcast that he encouraged Trump to consider a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >presidential bid<\/a>, criticizing the choices of candidates like al Gore and George H.W. Bush at the time,and suggesting Trump was a better choice due to his stance on NATO,trade deals,and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-vowed-to-elect-more-women-they-did-just-that\/\" title=\"Republicans Vowed To Elect More Women...They Did Just That\">national defense<\/a>. Trump initially dismissed Stone\u2019s encouragement, calling the idea &#8220;ridiculous,&#8221; but Stone argued that Trump\u2019s outspoken criticship on key issues made him a strong candidate.Hannity, who supported Trump early on despite backlash from other conservatives, expressed confidence that Trump would have won if he decided to run again, citing support from Trump&#8217;s wife, Melania. This reflection highlights how stone believed Trump\u2019s leadership potential was evident well before he entered politics.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/roger-stone\/\">Roger Stone<\/a> recalled urging then-businessman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> to seek the presidency in 1988, saying he believed the New York businessman possessed the leadership skills and instincts needed to lead the country years before Trump became a political figure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stone, who advised Trump during his first campaign, told the story about asking Trump to run before his 2016 White House bid on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/sean-hannity\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/sean-hannity\/\">Sean Hannity<\/a>\u2019s podcast, <em>Hang Out with Sean Hannity<\/em>, released on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4621926\/gop-opposes-postwar-reconstruction-iran\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Nearly half of Republicans oppose providing Iran $300 billion for postwar reconstruction: Poll<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4621534\/regime-change-trump-book-health-mystery\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Authors of new Trump book reveal his health is the one mystery they couldn\u2019t crack<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4621630\/trump-says-working-on-national-concealed-carry-legislation-bill-bachenberg\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump says he\u2019s \u2018working on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-health-remains-mystery-authors-of-new-trump-book-say\/\" title=\"Trump&#039;s health remains mystery, authors of new Trump book say\">\u2019 national concealed-carry legislation<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During a conversation with Trump at the time, Trump told Stone voters had \u201cterrible\u201d choices in then-presidential candidates <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Al-Gore\/\">Al Gore<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/george-h-w-bush\/\">George H.W. Bush<\/a>, saying there must be someone better.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stone recalls telling Trump there is a better candidate they could support, telling the future president that he is that candidate. Trump told Stone it was \u201cridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Trump questioned why Stone believed he would be a good candidate, Stone listed a variety of reasons that would be key points to Trump\u2019s second presidency.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019re a vocal critic that our <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/NATO\/\">NATO<\/a> allies don\u2019t pay their fair share, you\u2019re a vocal critic that we\u2019re being taken to the cleaners in all these trade deals, \u2026 [and] you\u2019re strong on national defense,\u201d Stone said. \u201cAnd why not? Who would be better?\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Stone asked that, Trump told the conservative political consultant that if he ran, he would win, to which Hannity jumped in to say first lady <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/melania-trump\/\">Melania Trump<\/a> believed the same thing about Trump\u2019s fate if he launched a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/White-House\/\">White House<\/a> bid. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4621630\/trump-says-working-on-national-concealed-carry-legislation-bill-bachenberg\/\"><strong>TRUMP SAYS HE\u2019S \u2018WORKING ON\u2019 NATIONAL CONCEALED-CARRY LEGISLATION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hannity said he was one of the first to support Trump\u2019s presidential ambitions and that other conservative pundits criticized him for backing Trump.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI had almost every conservative voice attacking me for supporting him,\u201d Hannity said. \u201cBut I saw something in him and I knew he could win and I knew the country would be better off.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stone urged Trump to run in 1988, believing he had leadership<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3984,"featured_media":2618009,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP20359026168081.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32319,5894,36022],"class_list":["post-2618008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-donald-trump","tag-politics","tag-roger-stone"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP20359026168081.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618008","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3984"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2618008"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618008\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2618012,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2618008\/revisions\/2618012"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2618009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2618008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2618008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2618008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}