If there are two statements one could use to sum up self-professed primary tenets of Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump, they would be:
• He is strong.
• He loves free speech.
Ostensibly, these are the qualities his supporters love about him. But, just watch Trump disintegrate like a piece of tissue in the rain when presented with even the slightest pushback to his rhetoric. Again and again, he has shown he has no tolerance for questioning from journalists. This is especially true when the source of this criticism is a woman, a minority or someone with a physical impairment.
During the first GOP primary debate Aug. 6, 2015, in Cleveland, Ohio, Fox News host Megyn Kelly challenged Trump on disparaging comments he has made against women. He immediately went on the defensive.
“What I say … oftentimes it’s fun, it’s kidding,” he said. “We have a good time. What I say is what I say. And honestly Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me. But I wouldn’t do that.”
So shaken was Trump by this challenge that he announced he would not participate in Thursday’s Fox News debate at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa, which once again featured Kelly as one of the hosts. (He instead held his own simultaneous counterprogramming event.)
On Aug. 25, 2015, Mexican American television anchor Jorge Ramos was briefly thrown out of a Trump press conference after questioning his plans to build a wall on the Mexican border and deport millions of immigrants.
“Go back to Univision,” said Trump.
(Ramos was only allowed to re-enter several minutes later after other journalists demanded his return.)
Or, take his petty behavior at a Nov. 24, 2015 rally in South Carolina, when Trump appeared to mock New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski, who has arthrogryposis, a joint condition.
“Now the poor guy, you ought to see the guy,” Trump said, altering his voice and violently jerking his body in a manner better seen than described. “‘Uh, I don’t know what I said. I don’t remember.’”
Surely, these will not be the last such outbursts we see from Trump before his candidacy is through. Just remember this childish behavior the next time he tries to explain how tough and in favor of free speech he is.