Hours before voters go to the polls in New Hampshire, Donald Trump turned to the topic of waterboarding at a rally in Manchester. As he began to recount how Ted Cruz had squeamishly addressed the issue during Saturday’s debate, a shout came from the audience. Trump froze with a slight grin. And then this happened.
“She just said a terrible thing, you know what she said? Shout it out because I don’t want to say,” Trump said, clearly amused. As the woman repeated it, Trump pretended to be offended. “Psshh…you’re not allowed to say that, and I never expect to hear that from you again.” And then:
Another 1st in US political history. After Trump mocks Cruz on torture he repeats what woman shouts: “She said, ‘He’s a pussy.” Yes, he did
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) February 9, 2016
His exact quote: “You’re not allowed to say, and I never expect to hear that from you again, she said, ‘He’s a pussy,’ that’s terrible.”
As chants of “Trump! Trump! Trump!” broke out, the real estate mogul returned to the podium.
“What kind of people do I have here?” he said, to laughter, and then recalled getting flak for not condemning supporters who said offensive things about President Barack Obama. “The press got very angry because I didn’t defend the president, and I didn’t reprimand the person who said it. So, I just want to tell you, ma’am, you’re reprimanded, okay?”
So, that’s part of the political conversation now.