The Teflon Don Usually Lives to Fight Another Day
Donald Trump is under fire once again. A 2005 video, which honestly deserves no more viewers, recently surfaced. In said video, he made notably disgusting and misogynistic comments about women. Many high-tier Republicans are talking about withdrawing their vote for Trump. Some are calling for Pence to take over the ticket.
In reality, the one clear conclusion seems to be that the “dream” of a Trump presidency has run its course. However, many are quick to forget that the Donald is no stranger to controversy. Below, find the top 5 “disqualifying” gaffes that he survived.
1. Says Mexicans are Crime-Bringing Rapists
What better way to kick off a campaign? Upon announcing his candidacy, Trump made some questionable comments about Mexico:
When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.
While it was certainly charitable of Trump to say that there were a few good-eggs mixed in with the rapists, the remarks still sparked national outcry. Already, people called for him to suspend his campaign. Despite the immediate misstep, however, Trump soldiered on unabated.
2. Likes People Who Weren’t Captured
In short order, Trump followed his comments on Mexicans with comments on John McCain. Specifically, he targeted McCain’s status as a former prisoner of war. “He’s not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”
Members of the GOP immediately disavowed Trump and his comments. Most viewed insulting captured servicemen as an immediate game-changer. This was not the case, however, as he continued to cruise to the nomination.
3. Doesn’t Know About White Supremacists or David Duke
To add to the growing sentiment that Trump was projecting hateful and divisive rhetoric, he just happened to rack up the endorsement of one David Duke. Duke, a former leader of the KKK, publicly embraced Trump and his message. In an interview, he responded to a question on Duke’s endorsement:
Well, just so you understand, I don’t know anything about David Duke, okay? I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists. So, I don’t know.
Brushing off the endorsement of a noted white-supremacist would be a game changer for most candidates. For the Donald, however, the event carried no notable consequences.
4. Mocks Disabled Reporter
In an apparent quest to alienate as many groups as possible, Trump decided to attack a disabled reporter. Flailing his arms around as he took on the reporter who criticized him, he yelled out, “Now the poor guy, you ought to see this guy. ‘Ah, I don’t know what I said! I don’t remember!”
Even as someone new to politics, it’s generally pretty easy to understand that low-blow jokes like that are a no-go. In reality, at least for Trump, serious blow-back never materialized. Ultimately, while Clinton has tried to use this scene to her advantage, thus far it seems that she’s been unsuccessful.
5. Suggests a Mexican Judge Can’t Do His Job
Without a doubt, Trump laid out a real beauty with this one. In a lawsuit against his very own Trump University, he certainly had an opinion about the Mexican judge presiding over the case:
Mr. Trump said the background of the judge, who was born in Indiana to Mexican immigrants, was relevant because of his campaign stance against illegal immigration and his pledge to seal the southern U.S. border. “I’m building a wall. It’s an inherent conflict of interest,” Mr. Trump said.
Once more, the GOP lined up to condemn the man. Paul Ryan suggested that the remarks were the “definition of racism.” Few withdrew their endorsements, but most at least feigned outrage. As it turns out, no one really cared, and he marches on.