Old Newscast: How Donald Trump Won The Republican Nomination 2016 (Part 1)

Podcast: Newscast
Host(s): Adam Fleming, Catriona Perry, Anthony Zurcher
Date: December 31, 2025
Main Theme:
A look back at the unlikely, paradigm-shifting rise of Donald Trump from celebrity businessman to the Republican nominee in 2016. BBC journalists and eyewitnesses to political history reflect on what happened, what the political climate was like, and why so few people saw Trump’s victory coming.

Episode Overview

This special "Old Newscast" episode revisits one of the pivotal political moments of the 21st century: Donald Trump's surprise ascent to the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, beginning with his golden escalator campaign announcement. BBC correspondents present in the US at that time recount the atmosphere, assessments, and miscalculations that defined the period, analyze Trump’s approach and its resonance, and unpack the early warning signs that mainstream political analysis missed.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The 2016 Republican Primary Field

• [01:34–02:55] Adam provides historical context: In 2015, with Obama’s second term ending, Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton were the presumed front-runners. Trump’s candidacy was broadly dismissed.
  • “So why did Donald Trump decide to run? And how was he able to win against all the odds? That will be the subject of the next two episodes of Old Newscast.” (Adam, 02:34)

2. Where Were They When Trump Announced?

• [03:44–04:23] Catriona Perry was covering Jeb Bush’s campaign launch in Florida, highlighting Bush’s "front-runner" status and recalling the lack of expectation that Trump would become significant.

  • “Jeb Bush, of course, at that time, front runner. So it was really important to have gone down to Florida for that launch.” (Catriona Perry, 04:23)

• [05:52–06:45] Anthony Zurcher stayed in Washington. Despite being a political reporter, he did not think Trump deserved close coverage and doubted Trump’s ability to succeed.

  • “I... didn’t think he had a chance to win the nomination. Scoffing almost.” (Anthony Zurcher, 06:45)

3. Early Media and Insider Dismissal of Trump

• [06:45–07:14] Both guests recount widespread internal skepticism:

  • “I was told... ‘oh, don’t worry, that’ll go nowhere. That’s going nowhere.’” (Catriona Perry, 06:45)

• Adam crystallizes the consensus:

  • “The vibe at the time was that he was the comedy candidate.” (Adam, 07:14)

4. CPAC and the ‘Joke’ Candidate Perception

• [07:18–09:57] Anthony describes Trump’s minimal impact at CPAC in early 2015, the annual conservative gathering, and the perception of him as a sideshow compared to candidates like Jeb Bush or Rand Paul.

  • “He kind of moved through the crowd, but no one really gave him much attention... he was kind of viewed as a joke and a sideshow.” (Anthony Zurcher, 08:55)

• Emphasis on Trump’s astronomic negative ratings among Republicans.

  • “His negative ratings among Republican voters was over 50%... I didn’t think he could get the nomination.” (Anthony Zurcher, 09:37)

5. The Power of Name Recognition and Outsider Status

• [09:57–10:47] Catriona Perry compares Trump’s universal recognition to contemporaries like Ben Carson, another outsider who briefly captured some of the same anti-establishment energy.

  • “Everyone knew instantly who he was. He didn’t have to explain himself... in politics, as we know, that’s more than half the battle.” (Catriona Perry, 10:15)

• Anthony notes the early signs of populist, outsider appeal populating the GOP field.

6. Trump’s Branding History & Media Persona

• [11:52–15:29] Discussion of Trump’s pre-political fame, the lasting cultural influence of The Apprentice, and his previous flirtations with politics.

  • “He was famous from The Apprentice, which is a much huger show in America at the time... not the equivalent of Alan Sugar.” (Adam, 11:52)
  • “You would have been hard pressed then to find too many people who didn’t know who Donald Trump was...” (Catriona Perry, 12:23)

• Reflection on his long game and hints from as early as the 1980s and the emotionally significant roasting at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

7. Mastery of Political Theatre: From Gold and Helicopters to the Iowa State Fair

• [16:11–18:32] Trump’s symbolism and spectacle, including helicopter rides at the Iowa State Fair, outshining traditional campaign tactics and visuals.

  • “It was Donald Trump who dominated the Iowa State Fair... he was giving helicopter rides... seemingly above everyone else. That metaphor for his campaign was really striking.” (Anthony Zurcher, 17:19)

• Early recognition of his skills as a showman and narrative-shaper.

  • “One has a flair, a campaign flare. He’s a gifted showman and he’s turning that for political benefit.” (Anthony Zurcher, 17:50)

8. The Obama Roast and Birtherism

• [19:19–24:44] Deep dive into the way Trump’s very public "birther" campaign against Obama built on themes of outsider resentment and handed him notoriety:

  • “...that was really... about birtherism... he claimed to have all kinds of evidence that Barack... ‘Barack Hussein Obama,’ you know, had no legal right to be president.” (Catriona Perry, 19:41)

• Memorable moment: Barack Obama’s joke at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner:

  • “No one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than the Donald Trump. And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter. Like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?” (Barack Obama, 21:10)

• Anthony points out Trump’s opportunistic pivot on birtherism during his campaign.

9. The Golden Escalator Campaign Launch and Message Resonance

• [24:44–29:14] Analysis of the enduring visual—and the pivotal substance—of Trump’s 2015 campaign launch.

  • “The thing you have to give Donald Trump credit for is that he is a master in marketing and advertising, in commanding the attention of the media... what he said on that day really are many of the policies he has carried right through to this second term.” (Catriona Perry, 25:16)

  • Anthony cites the infamous “They’re not sending their best...” line and how Trump was “painting with a broad brush,” weaponizing immigration anxieties.

• Summary of how Trump centered the themes of immigration, anti-elite populism, and nostalgia—“Make America Great Again”—from day one.

  • “Nostalgia is a very powerful political force and one that Donald Trump did a really effective job of tapping into...” (Anthony Zurcher, 28:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Adam (02:34): “So why did Donald Trump decide to run? And how was he able to win against all the odds?”
• Catriona Perry (06:46): “I was told... ‘oh, don’t worry, that’ll go nowhere.’”
• Anthony Zurcher (09:37): “I didn’t think he could get the nomination... someone who’s that unpopular... never going to make any headway.”
• Catriona Perry (10:15): “Everyone knew instantly who he was. He didn’t have to explain himself... in politics, as we know, that’s more than half the battle.”
• Barack Obama (21:10): “No one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than the Donald Trump. And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter. Like, did we fake the moon landing?...”
• Anthony Zurcher (17:50): “He’s a gifted showman and he’s turning that for political benefit.”
• Catriona Perry (25:16): “What he said on that day... are many of the policies that he has carried right through... talking about immigrants, talking about the kind of people who came to the US being murderers and rapists, talking about building the wall.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:34] Setting the 2015 political scene
• [03:44] Personal recollections: Where were you at Trump’s announcement?
• [05:52] BBC’s initial skepticism
• [07:18] CPAC and the “joke” candidate view
• [09:57] The importance of outsider status and recognition
• [11:52] Trump’s brand, media persona, and previous political flirtations
• [16:11] The Iowa State Fair helicopter spectacle
• [19:19] Obama’s 2011 “birther” roast and Trump’s reaction
• [24:44] The golden escalator launch: imagery and message
• [25:16] Immediate resonance and endurance of Trump’s campaign themes
• [28:32] The power of “Make America Great Again” nostalgia

Closing

Adam:
“And what comes next we will discuss in the next episode of this series of All Newscast.” (29:14)

Tone & Style

The conversation is reflective, thoughtful, and at times self-deprecating, with the hosts candidly admitting past doubts about Trump’s viability and noting the surprise that historians and journalists alike felt as the campaign unfolded. The tone is conversational but authoritative, tinged with hindsight, historical depth, and journalistic observation.

This summary captures the rich context, major themes, memorable moments, and underlying dynamics behind Donald Trump’s unlikely path to the 2016 GOP nomination as dissected by BBC’s Newscast team. It’s a must-listen (or read) for anyone who wants to understand how “the joke candidate” became a world-changing political force.