The Republican Party is in the midst of a civil war over the political rise of real estate mogul Donald Trump. Once dismissed as an entertaining distraction in the 2016 presidential race, Trump has emerged as the GOP front-runner and may very well win the nomination. His critics — which include prominent Republicans like 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former CIA director Michael Hayden, and GOP strategist Karl Rove — are terrified by the prospect of a man who calls for a ban on Muslims and who characterizes Mexicans as rapists as the next commander-in-chief of the most powerful country in the world. To his supporters, however, Trump symbolizes the anti-establishment candidate who will create jobs and crush ISIS, and of course, "Make America Great Again." His base is deeper and more diverse than pundits expected it would be: though mostly white, his supporters include men and women of all education and income levels, a range of religious affiliations, and even different degrees of conservatism. Cosmopolitan.com spoke to three of his younger supporters — college women — about why they stand by Trump.

Why do you support Donald Trump?

Cassidy Cook, 18, student at Campbell University in North Carolina and National Secretary for Students for Trump: Well, I really support Donald Trump because he comes from a background where he turns nothing into something. And I also really appreciate the fact that he's not afraid to put his foot down and tell people what is exactly on his mind. And I really think that makes a good person and a good president.

Anna Chapman, 22, senior at the University of South Carolina and chair of campus College Republicans: I support Donald Trump because I feel like he is a doer and I feel like if we keep putting politicians in the White House, regardless of party, we're just going to get the same result, you know? They call him the "Great Negotiator." I don't like people like Ted Cruz, who literally take the hard line on everything and stonewall everything basically and don't compromise their principles. I think Trump is a lot more moderate than people give him credit for, and I would say I'm a moderate. I don't agree with 100 percent of his positions, but I also like the fact that he's not flattering — I mean, the establishment is just losing it over what to do about him.

Julie Dobbs, 18, student at Spring Hill College in Alabama and state director of Students for Trump: I support him because he has taken everything that we've learned about American politics or everything that we have been taught, and he has molded it into this giant middle finger that's pointed toward the establishment. He's not a politician. He's not rehearsed. But he is a very special businessman who is willing to work for our country, which is a big deal, that he wants to work for us and not just for himself. He's driven for perfection, and honestly, I don't think he's going to take any less for America. And we need to be in that position where we don't take anything less than perfection.

How do you think he will "Make America Great Again?" and what does that mean?

Cook: I feel like it means to bring back more jobs here to America and to make America a Christian nation again — because how many people have obviously realized that with everything going on, it's not really a Christian nation anymore? But that's what our forefathers built this country on.

Which of his policies do you support?

Dobbs: My main concern is illegal immigration because I understand where he's coming from. I love history and I know that during Jimmy Carter's reign, when we did open the borders to Mexico, of course there were some good people that did come across the border, but Mexico also sent over people who were in their prison systems, people who were in their insane asylums, that they didn't want to have to pay for anymore. Not saying they were a burden, but they did cause a lot of problems in America. They brought in drugs, and that has stayed with us from that time, and we're still trying to recover from it.

Chapman: I like his plan for trade about taxing imports, so trying to keep jobs in America. I think that's a great idea. No other politician has even suggested that.

I also like that he is the only Republican who points out the good things that Planned Parenthood does. I think it's important to talk about that because you have so many Republicans who are spewing around this rhetoric ... I saw a Ted Cruz commercial the other day that was just like, "On day one, I will investigate Planned Parenthood," and I just think that's so stupid because it just, oh my god, it just gets under my skin. But I'm pro-life. I'm personally against abortion and I used to think that Planned Parenthood shouldn't be funded by the government, but I changed my mind about that because they're really the only place that specializes in women's care that gets aid from the federal government. I really appreciate that he is the only Republican who was willing to take a different stance on that issue.

But he does still want to defund Planned Parenthood.

Chapman: I know that's what he said, but I don't take him 100 percent at his word. I think he was just saying that due to pressure. I don't think that's going to be [what he does] on day one in office. I don't think that's going to be his, like, no. 1 priority.

What do you think about the plan to deport 11 million immigrants and build a wall at the Mexican border?

Cook: What I think about that is I love the idea. I'm not against people coming to America and wanting a better life as long as they're legal. I'm not for illegal immigrants coming over.

Dobbs: I think in the long run it will be a good idea. As far as the steps toward that … obviously you can't support all of them at one time. That is kind of impossible and that will cost a ton of money. But in my point of view, if we were to start with the 351,000 illegal aliens that we have in our prison systems right now and deport them over to Mexico, that would be our first step. [Editor's note: There are no stats on the number of incarcerated undocumented immigrants, but the number is likely far less. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported in 2013 that 90,000 noncitizens were incarcerated. This number does not distinguish between those who are in the U.S. legally and those who are not.] Because then, you can see the price difference between what our federal government spent on prisons before the illegal aliens left and then after they left. And then you would have that little [surplus] of money that you could use to spend on the other people to deport them.

Chapman: I am, like, 100 percent for building a wall, but I don't know if it's realistic to deport everybody — and I feel like he knows it's not realistic — but I feel like he's a good negotiator. He's going to ask for a lot more than what he knows he's going to get. Some people call his immigration [proposals] racist, blah, blah, blah. There's nothing racist about saying there shouldn't be illegal immigrants here. They're illegal immigrants for a reason. I know everybody has their own opinion about it, and it's sad and whatnot, but we have to put Americans first, and I think he's the only one who wants to put America first.

How do you think Donald Trump will help women?

Dobbs: I think most of his women's advocacy is going to be coming through his daughter. [Ivanka Trump] has her very successful fashion line. And she would have never had that fashion line if it wasn't for her dad's influence, for his business knowledge and everything that he has given to her. So look at how successful she is and look at the other daughter he has[, Tiffany Trump]. His daughters are very smart. And I think that's something that he really advocates through his family. It's kind of like the American dream. You want success, you want to have that education. And I think it's going to be something that can inspire all young women.

Cook: I believe that he will do his best to support women in our society more. There are certain jobs that most people think that only males can do. And I believe that's wrong; women can do the same thing. Most people think that lawyers are just men — doctors, just jobs like that. I think he'll be able to bring more jobs back here to America and let women be able to take those jobs.

Chapman: I don't know about women specifically, but it's beneficial to everybody to try to keep more jobs in the United States. I think it's kind of a hard question because I don't think women need to be helped. I think there are good things that everyone's talking about that would benefit everybody. I'm not really sure about what policies would benefit women in particular besides Planned Parenthood stuff.

What about the criticisms of sexism against him, his comments about women and women's bodies — or the way he has treated Fox host Megyn Kelly?

Cook: He has a wife and daughter, so I believe that somewhere down the line, he understands the needs of a woman. And though he might have said those remarks, I don't think he really meant them in, like, a harmful way or anything like that.

Chapman: When he insults Ted Cruz, is that an insult to all humans? No. I don't think Trump was sexist. People try to say like, "Oh, he is, blah, blah, blah," but I personally don't see that. He insults everybody, whether that's good thing or a bad thing.

Former KKK leader David Duke has publicly supported Trump, and Trump was oddly very slow to distance himself from that association. How do you feel about that?

Cook: Honestly, people are going to talk no matter what and try their best to bring him down because they don't like what he stands for now and the way he puts his spin on things. So no, it doesn't really bother me. But I feel like now he's going to become a better person, he's really trying to make America great again, and that's what I believe.

Dobbs: He can't technically stop it. If they want to support him, they're going to support him. I mean, I don't like the KKK, I don't think anybody does, but if they're showing support, it doesn't mean that he is getting money from them.

Chapman: It was very concerning to me at first, but once I looked more into it — I counted 13 times over the weekend where he disavowed [former KKK leader David Duke]. I think the media's completely gone out of control with this and it's just trying to see how long they can make it a headline and just to try to hurt him. None of his policies are racist.

He's flip-flopped on many of his positions. Does that bother you?

Cook: Not really. What he stands for, it's mainly Republican. So it doesn't really bother me much.

Dobbs: He has often said in his new book, Crippled America, that he has changed his position. But he also says America is changing every day and with every new day, you gain new experiences. You have new influences. And of course, that's gonna make you change your mind. He has different outlooks on different opinions, ideas and stuff. With the Republican Party, I really don't think they like him just because he is kind of that outlaw of the establishment. He's sticking the middle finger up to them and saying, "OK, well, this is everything that you're doing wrong." He's not whitewashing the truth, like our government, has done to the public in past times. And that's probably their biggest problem, because he's willing to come out and he's actually going to work for the people. He wants to tax the elite higher because that's how it should be. I just think they're very scared of him and what he can do, because he's going to out a lot of people and show just how corrupt our government is.

Chapman: Honestly, I'm way more socially liberal. I think he's just trying to get through the primary. That's just not something that bothers me, and I know that is something that bothers other people, but people evolve, people change, people have different experiences, people change their minds all the time, so it's not a big deal to me.

If Trump doesn't win the GOP nomination, who do you hope wins it instead?

Dobbs: That's a very hard question. I have full support in him and full faith that he will get it, and if I didn't, I'd have to wait and get more opinions back. I'd have to look into it more.

Chapman: That's a hard one. Probably Rubio. I really didn't like Rubio at first but, actually John Kasich would be my no. 1, but I don't think he has a chance. Anybody but Cruz.

Cook: Ben Carson. He's a really well-spoken man, also he's a very smart man — he's a surgeon, and I'm aspiring surgeon, so I look up to him about that and for that. You can tell he cares. He doesn't speak too loud, but I like him. [Editor's note: This interview was conducted before Carson announced that he doesn't "see a political path forward" in the nomination.]

Who do you want to see as Trump's opponent on the Democratic side?

Dobbs: Either, honestly, would be fine, because like I said, I have full faith that whoever it is, he'll beat [them]. Bernie Sanders is — I couldn't even get started on him, but that's a long story. Hillary Clinton, if by some chance she doesn't get indicted by the time she's elected then — I don't really think we have a lot to worry about. I think the Democrats are very just blinded right now, and I couldn't see myself in that position.

Chapman: Hillary. Bernie and Trump share the same electorate ... their bases are kind of similar in a really, really strange way. I think they actually have a lot in common in terms of how they stand on super PACs. Neither one of them has a super PAC and I just think they share kind of the same base of voters. I think that Hillary has way too much baggage in her history too. I think Trump is the only person who is going to call it out. When she calls him a sexist, his response is so true and it's nothing that any other Republican would say so, yeah, definitely Hillary.

What's one thing that you think people get wrong about Trump?

Dobbs: A lot of people get a lot of stuff wrong. A lot of people, especially the Millennials, they're not very well-educated on our history and Donald Trump is very smart. He makes references back to times in history, and Millennials, they don't understand those references that he's making. They don't see his point of view or where he's coming from and how he plans on his ideas bettering our country, because they didn't live in that time or they didn't worry about educating themselves on that time.

Cook: Probably the fact that he's racist and that he doesn't want all these people in America, and I don't think that's true. I think he wants people to come to America and live American lives as long as they're legal.

Chapman: Probably that he's a racist. I think that is absolutely ridiculous, because none of his policies reflect that.

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Prachi Gupta Prachi Gupta is an award-winning journalist based in New York.

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