Report: Conservative Icon Phyllis Schlafly Endorses Donald Trump as “Last Hope [for America]”

People’s Pundit: ‘Love Him or Hate Him, the Endorsement by Phyllis Schlafly is a BIG Deal!’

Conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly, left, endorsed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, right, who is seen here greeting supporters during a campaign rally at the American Airlines Center on September 14, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. More than 20,000 tickets had been distributed for the event. (Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative icon and activist, all but endorsed Donald Trump in an exclusive interview with WND because “he’s the last hope [for America].”

“It sounds like Donald Trump is the only one who has any fight in him,” she said. “He will fight for the issues that we really care about and are very hot at the present time, such as the immigration issue. I don’t see anyone else who’s eager to fight.”

Schlafly’s endorsement, without a doubt, is a big deal in the sense some vocal conservatives express concern that The Donald is not conservative enough. Schlafly has built her conservative credentials over an activist career that spans more than a half century. Trump, the clear national frontrunner, was quick to pounce on the endorsement and thank Schlafly on social media.

Phyllis Schlafly: Trump is 'last hope for America' https://t.co/jCxqfVCGB6 pic.twitter.com/sk713ir5NQ

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 21, 2015

“He does look like he’s the last hope [for America],” Schlafly said. “We don’t hear anybody saying what he’s saying. In fact, most of the people who ought to be lining up with him are attacking him. They’re probably jealous of the amount of press coverage he gets. But the reason he gets so much press coverage is the grassroots are fed up with people who are running things, and they do want a change. They do want people to stand up for America. It really resonates when he says he wants to ‘Make America Great Again.’”

The slogan “Make America Great Again” is, of course, one used by another insurgent conservative candidate backed by Phyllis Schlafly decades ago–Ronald Reagan. Trump, as well as former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, have tried to liken the billionaire real estate mogul’s policy shifts to those of the former president and Republican standard-bearer. But that narrative has been met with opposition, even from Michael Reagan, the former president’s own son.

“Nevertheless, love him or hate him, the endorsement from Phyllis Schlafly is a big deal because it gives Donald Trump bragging rights,” said PPD’s senior political analyst, Rich Baris. “And we all know just how much Mr. Trump loves to brag.”

Schlafly pointed to the recent $1.1 trillion budget passed by the Republican-controlled Congress, which was elected to shrink the size and scope of government. She called it a “betrayal” and warned the Establishment will fight hard to get their big donors amnesty without a strong leader pushing back. Politicians have had their chance at proving they are that leader, according to Schlafly, and now it’s time “to give a new try to somebody else.”

“The rich guys are putting the money in. They want to bring in the low-wage people. That’s the way they think they’ll make money,” she said. “But that’s not the way America will prosper. America was built because we had a great growing and prosperous middle class. We need to rebuild that again. I’m willing to give a new try to somebody else.”