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NEW DELHI: When real estate mogul and TV personality Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the 2016 US elections, almost no one took him seriously. The bid was considered yet another attempt by Trump to boost his PR ratings, with many expecting him to drop out of the race once a sufficient amount of media attention had been directed his way.
To everyone’s surprise Trump began polling favourably. His campaign seems predicated on offensive racist and sexist remarks, and the political (not to mention social, cultural, gender and everything else) incorrectness only helped boost his ratings. In one of the most shocking comments yet, Trump whilst announcing his candidacy said Mexicans seeking immigration to the US were “rapists.”
Since then, Trump has attempted to double down on his offensive comment, saying “They love me, I love them,” and adding that “if I get the nomination, I’ll win the Latino vote.”
Although Trump’s ability to win the Latino vote is slim, the mogul is polling favourably. A recent survey by NBC puts Trump in the lead in terms of the Republican Primary, with 23 percent. Sen. Ted Cruz was next on the list with 13 percent.
Trump, in fact, remained on top despite coming under fire for criticizing Fox anchor Megyn Kelly during and after a Republican debate. Asked about Kelly, Trump had said, You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever." Kelly had earlier held Trump to task for his history of calling women he disagreed with "'fat pigs,' 'dogs,' 'slobs' and 'disgusting animals.”
The comment sparked outrage, with Trump defending his criticism. “I've had such an amazing relationship with women in business. They are amazing executives. They are killers. They are phenomenal," Trump said on ABC's "This Week". Asked if he thought he had gone too far, Trump said, "No, not at all."
Offensive as they may be, these above comments are not a rare occurrence in Trump’s public discourse. Here is a look at some of the most offensive things the leading Republic presidential candidate has said.
"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're sending people that have lots of problems...they're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime. They're rapists." –Donald Trump
"He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured." –Donald Trump on John McCain
"I have people that have been studying [Obama's birth certificate] and they cannot believe what they're finding... I would like to have him show his birth certificate, and can I be honest with you, I hope he can. Because if he can't, if he can't, if he wasn't born in this country, which is a real possibility…then he has pulled one of the great cons in the history of politics." –Donald Trump, three weeks before Obama released his long-form birth certificate in 2011
"It's like in golf. A lot of people — I don't want this to sound trivial — but a lot of people are switching to these really long putters, very unattractive. It’s weird. You see these great players with these really long putters, because they can't sink three-footers anymore. And, I hate it. I am a traditionalist. I have so many fabulous friends who happen to be gay, but I am a traditionalist." - Donald Trump telling the New York Times why he opposes gay marriage
"I have a great relationship with the blacks." –Donald Trump
"I think the only difference between me and the other candidates is that I'm more honest and my women are more beautiful." –Donald Trump, while teasing a presidential run in 2000
"You know, it really doesn't matter what [the media] write as long as you've got a young and beautiful piece of ass." –Donald Trump
"All of the women on 'The Apprentice' flirted with me -- consciously or unconsciously. That's to be expected." –Donald Trump
"I don't think Ivanka would do that, although she does have a very nice figure. I've said if Ivanka weren't my daughter, perhaps I'd be dating her." –Donald Trump, when asked how he would react if Ivanka posed for Playboy
"You know the funny thing, I don't get along with rich people. I get along with the middle class and the poor people better than I get along with the rich people." –Donald Trump
"I'm not a schmuck. Even if the world goes to hell in a handbasket, I won't lose a penny." –Donald Trump
"The beauty of me is that I'm very rich." –Donald Trump
“Laziness is a trait in blacks.” –Donald Trump
“Black guys counting my money! I hate it. The only kind of people I want counting my money are little short guys that wear yarmulkes every day.” –Donald Trump
“You take a look at her, she’s a slob. She talks like a, like a truck driver.” –Donald Trump on Rosie O’ Donnell
“.@ariannahuff is unattractive both inside and out. I fully understand why her former husband left her for a man- he made a good decision.” – Donald Trump on Arianna Huffington
“@mplefty67: If Hillary Clinton can’t satisfy her husband what makes her thing she can satisfy America?’ @realDonaldTrump #2016president” – Donald Trump retweeting another user on Hillary Clinton.
“What a convenient mistake: @BarackObama issued a statement for Kwanza (sic) but failed to issue one for Christmas.” – Donald Trump
“It’s freezing and snowing in New York. We need global warming!” -- Donald Trump on global warming.
“I rented him a piece of land. “He paid me more for one night than the land was worth for two years, and then I didn’t let him use the land. That’s what we should be doing. I don’t want to use the word ‘screwed’, but I screwed him.” -- Donald Trump on his relationship with Muammar Qaddafi.
“To the victor belong the spoils” -- Donald Trump on the Iraq war.
And the last word, “Sorry losers and haters, but my I.Q. is one of the highest—and you all know it! Please don’t feel so stupid or insecure. It’s not your fault.”
