I disagree with your editorial to the effect that Donald Trump is an interloper in the Republican Party (“GOP must stop Trump,’’ April 10). His statements about trade, immigrants, war policy, and fiscal policy are clear echoes of the positions taken by Republican leaders for more than 30 years — except that Trump speaks more plainly. These leaders prepared the ground for the reception Trump is receiving.

Even in this election, competing candidates have scapegoated immigrants and religious minorities, espoused radical positions on warfare and torture, called for deep tax cuts — particularly for the rich — and blamed the economic woes of the American middle class on everyone and everything but the US economy itself.

Trump is no outlier; he’s just blunter. In my view, the Republican Party has reaped what it has sown.

Philip Siller

New York