Ben Carson's Endorsement Of Donald Trump Just Got Even Stranger

"We're only looking at four years."

Ben Carson offered his most lukewarm endorsement of Donald Trump yet, saying that if the GOP frontrunner wasn't a good president "we're only looking at four years." Then, to top it off, Carson admitted he would have preferred another candidate.

The retired neurosurgeon offered the strange reassurance on Monday during an interview with Steve Malzberg of Newsmax TV. Carson also said he would serve in an "advisory capacity" in a potential Trump administration.

Former Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson, left, embraced Donald Trump last Friday, after announcing he would endorse the GOP frontrunner.
Former Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson, left, embraced Donald Trump last Friday, after announcing he would endorse the GOP frontrunner.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Carson raised eyebrows last week when he made the endorsement, given that Trump had previously called him "pathological" and compared him to a child molester.

But on Monday, Carson said Trump would "surround himself with very good people." And if Trump was a failure, Carson said don't worry -- we only have to get through four years:

"Even if Donald Trump turns out not to be such a great president, which I don't think is the case, I think he's going to surround himself with really good people, but even if he didn't, we're only looking at four years as opposed to multiple generations and perhaps the loss of the American dream forever."

Carson admitted that backing Trump was more about what was "practical" than what was "preferred."

"I have to look at what is practical. I didn't see a path for (John) Kasich, who I like, or for (Marco) Rubio, who I like," Carson said. He added that unless there was a "miraculous change," Cruz couldn't win independent and Democratic voters.

"So I have to look at what is practical and what is going to save this country and the American dream for the next generation," Carson said. "Is there another scenario that I would have preferred? Yes -- but that scenario isn't available."

"With one of the other candidates, you mean?" asked Malzberg.

"Yes," Carson said.

"Interesting," answered Malzberg.

Before You Go

Ben Carson Through The Years

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