Jeb Bush called for Donald Trump to apologize to his wife Columba during Wednesday’s GOP presidential debate for comments Trump made about her in an interview in July, but Trump refused.
Trump was quoted as saying at the time that “if my wife were from Mexico, I think I would have a soft spot for people from Mexico.” Columba is a Mexican immigrant.
“To subject my wife into the middle of a raucous political conversation was completely inappropriate and I hope you apologize for that,” Bush told Trump, standing next to him on the debate stage, when asked about the comment.
Trump attempted to smooth over the situation, telling Bush, “I have to tell you, I hear phenomenal things. I hear your wife is a lovely woman.”
Trump suggested the quote was a mischaracterization, but Bush pressed him further.
“She’s absolutely the love of my life and right here and why don’t you apologize to her right now,” Bush said.
But Trump refused.
“I won’t do that because I said nothing wrong, but I do hear she’s a lovely woman,” Trump said.
