Trump: ‘Rapist’ Comment Backlash More ‘Severe’ Than I Expected

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump asks N.H. House Rep. Claire Rouillard, left, to confirm that his hair is real during a rally at Manchester Community College in Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday, June 17, ... Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump asks N.H. House Rep. Claire Rouillard, left, to confirm that his hair is real during a rally at Manchester Community College in Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Trump announced his candidacy for President yesterday. (Elizabeth Frantz/Concord Monitor via AP) MORE LESS
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Presidential candidate and ex-reality TV star Donald Trump admitted on Saturday that the wave of condemnation and crumbling business relationships, which followed his remarks calling immigrants “rapists,” has caught him a little off guard.

“I didn’t know it was going to be quite this severe,” Trump said on “Fox & Friends.” “But I really knew it was going to be bad.”

“You know, maybe I’m leading in polls, but this is certainly not good,” he also said. “I lose customers, I lose people.”

Macy’s, NBC Universal, Univision, Televisa and Serta have all dropped partnerships and business dealings with Trump following his “rapists” remark — which “Fox & Friends” co-host Clayton Morris described as “straight talk.”

“They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime. They’re rapists,” Trump said during his presidential launch. “And some, I assume, are good people.”

Several of Trump’s fellow GOP presidential contenders have stepped forward to rebuke his remarks, such as Jeb Bush, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), and former New York Gov. George Pataki (R).

“For the people who say I’m doing it for my brand — this isn’t good for my brand. I think it’s bad for my brand,” he said.

Watch the Fox segment:

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Notable Replies

  1. “Who knew that racism would be so unpopular in America? I mean, I watch FOX News, I thought it was the way to go.”

  2. Whereas his plan for defeating ISIL is a “sure thing”.

  3. What a fucking dunce.

  4. He will be fine. This gives him even more air time.

  5. An extended McLuhan moment, and not in a good way.

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