Donald Trump tells voters he’s ‘not toning it down’

A confident Donald Trump told supporters on Saturday that he’s not changing his pitch to voters, a day after his chief adviser assured Republican officials their party’s frontrunner would show more restraint while campaigning.

“You know, being presidential’s easy — much easier than what I have to do,” he told thousands at a rally in Bridgeport, Connecticut. “Here, I have to rant and rave. I have to keep you people going. Otherwise you’re going to fall asleep on me, right ”

Mr Trump declared to the crowd that he has no intention of reversing any of his provocative policy plans, including building a wall along the length of the Southern border with Mexico.

“Everything I say I’m going to do, folks, I’ll do,” he said.

Mr Trump’s new chief adviser, Paul Manafort, met top Republican officials on Thursday and told them that his candidate, known for his over-the-top persona and brashness, has been “projecting an image” and that “the part that he’s been playing is now evolving”.

Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, speaking at a rally in Central Falls, Rhode Island, warned voters that Mr Trump is attempting to modify his positions as he seeks to appeal to a broader audience beyond the Republican primaries.

“Trump keeps saying things like, ‘You know, I didn’t really mean it. It was all part of my reality TV show. Running for President will be on your screen,’” Ms Clinton said. “Well, if we buy that, shame on us.”

Ms Clinton said Mr Trump wants to “go after every one of the rights we have”.

She also ripped into Mr Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz’s ability to conduct foreign policy, saying, “What they say about the world is not only offensive, it’s dangerous.”