Trump in 2012: If the GOP doesn't pass immigration reform, they'll never win again

CNN's Andrew Kaczynski uncovered a clip of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaking about immigration reform after the 2012 presidential election.  Trump called in to Fox and Friends in December 2012 to discuss what he believed was the downfall of the Republican platform and the reason for their second consecutive presidential defeat.

"The Republicans ought to take the lead.  They have to get smart.  They cannot have what happened to them with immigration and other issues sabotage their elections," Trump declared.

He added, "Immigration is very important, and the Republicans have to get involved. Look, they're never gonna win another election, unless they do something.  So the Republicans have to get smart, and in my opinion take the lead on immigration and lots of other things."

Watch:

lol, just found this video of Donald Trump in December 2012 saying if GOP doesn't pass immigration reform they won't ever win again. pic.twitter.com/ElHVFCgKgB

— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE)

November 7, 2016

This stance is vastly different from the platform Trump has touted as the 2016 Republican presidential nominee, even going so far as to call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States and promising to deport the millions of illegal immigrants currently living in the United States.