Donald Trump rarely, if ever, apologizes. What he does do is damage control, even if he insisted on Sunday that the campaign was going “fantastically well.”
Trump did phone interviews with four Sunday talkshows, save for “Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace,” that being on the network that he has launched a fusillade of angry Tweets at following Thursday night’s debate in which he was both the star draw and the star target.
How “fantastically well” can a presidential campaign be doing if Trump has to declare, as he did on CNN’s “State of the Union,” that “I cherish women”? Or, on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” that “Women are tremendous”? Or that he insisted on “Face the Nation,” “I will be phenomenal to the women”?
At the Thursday night debate, Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly asked Trump why he had called some women “fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals.”
In his answer, Trump replied, “Only Rosie O’Donnell,” before turning his fire on Kelly and political correctness.
As with most things Trump, that was not it. Appearing on CNN on Friday, after a day of Twitter rants about Kelly and of being the debate’s target, he said of Kelly, “You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her whatever.”
That comment, and all it implied, got him kicked out of Erick Erickson’s conservative RedState conference, which in turn provoked a Saturday of Trump tweets calling Erickson a “loser” and denying that he was commenting on Kelly’s menstrual period. Instead, Trump insisted, he was referring to her nose, and to think otherwise was what a “deviant” would think.
“I wanted to get on [with the interview] so I stopped, rather than say nose or ears, because that’s very common coming from eyes, nose, ears. These are very common. And what it means is that a person is angry. [Kelly] was very angry,” Trump explained to Stephanopoulos.
Carly Fiorina tweeted about Trump’s remarks, saying, “Mr. Trump: There. Is. No. Excuse” and, “I stand with @megynkelly.” Jeb Bush tweeted, “Do we want to insult 53% of Americans? What Donald Trump said was wrong. That’s not how we bring people together.”
He actually started some of the interviews on Sunday by first attacking Bush’s comment last week about women’s health funding, saying Bush “destroyed” his relationship with the female gender.
“And I’ve always had a great relationship to the women,” Trump said on “This Week.” “The relationship has been amazing in terms of thousands of employees, top level employees.”
Trump takes credit for delivering a record cable audience to Fox News’ debate coverage, and he’s more than willing to help their competitors to maximize their audience in the aftermath.
But Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), another contender, told the Washington Post that he thinks the party has “crossed the Rubicon, where his behavior becomes about us, not just him.”
Plenty of politicians’ campaigns have been undone by a comment, a remark, even a misinterpreted emotion, like Howard Dean’s “scream” in 2004 or Ed Muskie’s “tears” in 1972.
Three weeks ago, predictions were that Trump, too, was going to suffer the same fate, after a dig at Sen. John McCain’s status as a war hero. Instead, Trump’s poll numbers rose.
If Trump’s numbers don’t erode, there will be plenty more waxing on about what it all means about the electorate, even if it is still early. If they do, then it will fulfill many expectations. More candidates will pile on. Trump will get more desperate. And he’ll probably still insist that his campaign is going “fantastically well.”
Where is ms Kelly after the problem with mr Trump? Is she ok ?
It’s a shame that Politicians get away with giving in to Obama in so many ways ignoring the American people over and over again. Now that they need us it’s like it’s all forgotten and the Media has nothing more worthwhile than to point at Trump’s comment. Where are the questions on why they let Obamacare come to fruit, the same on the invasion of illegals on and on and none of them getting on the bandwagon with those brave Americans who were opposing these illegal actions such as Rand Paul, Sheriff and Governor from Arizona, Perry from Texas and now Mr.Trump. Instead the media spends time telling us how how impressive Bush (self declared Mexican, should we ask where his heart is?), Rubio ( Mr.No comment on immigration until he saw people liked Mr. Trump’s comment )and Walker (skywalker…walking on air while agreeing with the Left). Fox commentators must have that feeling going up their leg for these 3 people just as the Left had for Obama!
Make America Great Again! Donald Trump (Republican or Third Party) is on a path to make America GREAT Again and become the Greatest President since Lincoln for minorities, all legal immigrants, the elderly, women, veterans, wounded warriors, education, energy, blue collar workers, Christians, the Unborn, and national security! Trump will stop the influx of illegal invaders, disease, and drugs that will redirect young people into productive lives rather than prison and drug-suicide. Trump is a very successful businessman and recognized around the world as one who speaks truth; however, “Fools reject Truth.” Proverbs
megyn Kelly as the biggest joke of the debate. She thought by talking down to the Donald she would look smarter.you cannot outsmart him.It only made her look like, a dragon spewing out fire.I am a 70 year old woman who was watching the debate just out of curiosity.The debate was a joke. It was a witch hunt for anyone FOX NEWS did not support.I know why I stopped watching FOX years ago and now I am sure I will never return
It amazes me that there are people who just completely ignore his terrible behavior, past and present, and keep supporting this out of control buffoon who would be the ruination of this country, but hey, there were people who supported Hitler and Stalin and Hussein, so there is no making sense of mankind sometimes. If somehow he incredibly got the position, I cannot foresee anyway that he would last four years. Under this kind of pressure and with his outrageous temper and childishly cruel behavior to others, he’d either quit, get kicked out of office through impeachment or be assassinated.
Trump supporters are in a box. If they really believe Trump meant that blood was coming out of her “nose”, they are confessing an astounding gullibility.
If they admit that Honest Donald is now fibbing when he talks about a “nose”, he’s looking less honest these days.
And if they think it was in fact a “joke” about menstruation, they have to decide whether or not a serious Presidential candidate should be sniggering like a 12-year boy.
Great fun for Democrats.
He’s an idiot.
I’m a 28 year old female. I personally thought it was hilarious! Men talk about women all the time. Especially about how mental they are during that time of the month. I do get emotional when it’s that time but I own up to it. He just had enough balls to say it in front of the world haha! Kudos!
Only a spiteful idiot would say such a thing…
You are broken and should be discarded too.
You guys are delusional if you think Trump is right for the position of President. Do any of you know how he acquired his buildings in the 80’s and 90’s? Or his mob connections pulling the strings behind the scenes? Didn’t think so… I suggest reading up before you vote
Hey Moralist… the USA is a crime syndicate… he’s perfect for the times…
For all his bluster, I believe Trump is being piled onto over a misunderstood remark. Funny how it is a FOX commentator who is twisting the meaning of his public remarks about Rosie O’Donnell. Remarkable that Erickson has fallen for the same illogical assumption. Perhaps Megyn Kelly should jump ship and head over to MSNBC.
No one is misunderstanding anything. Maybe you should read Ivana’s book. The comment he made to Kelly is absolutely Donald and he meant she was on the rag. He is a disgusting snotty little brat that lies and throws tantrums. He’s not suited to any political position and most assuredly not the presidency. You are giving a scumbag that yanked handfuls of his wife’s hair out during a tantrum FAR too much credit.
Wow, you sound very intelligent and passive; the language you use here is disgusting… get a life (or d/load a dictionary…).
Mr. Trump need not apologize. Keep on gaining in the polls and become the next President of the United States. He is only one who make America great again. Trump 2016
He is the only one of them I would have a beer with (and he doesn’t drink).
You must represent the booze soused, shot liver, pathetic old Mantle at the end.