Donald Trump seized on his opponent’s remarks over the weekend decrying the “basket of deplorables” among his supporters, saying Hillary Clinton should apologize after she “viciously demonized” Americans or drop out of the race.
Speaking at the National Guard Association in Baltimore on Monday, Trump said Clinton’s “disdain” for millions of voters “disqualifies her from public service.”
“We have the support of cops, soldiers, carpenters, welders, the young and the old and millions of working class families who just want a better future and a good job,” the GOP nominee said. “These were the people Hillary Clinton so viciously demonized. These were among the countless Americans Hillary Clinton called deplorable, irredeemable and un-American.
“She called these patriotic men and women every vile name in the book. She called racist, sexist, xenophobic, islamophobic,” he continued.
Trump said Clinton “divides people into baskets as though they were objects, not human beings.”
He went on to say Clinton’s remarks, which she later said were “wrong,” should disqualify her from the presidency.
“You cannot run for president if you have such contempt in your heart for the American voter, and she does,” Trump said. “You can’t lead this nation if you have such a low opinion for its citizens.”
“If Hillary Clinton will not retract her comments in full, I don’t see how she can credibly campaign any further,” he also said.
This post has been updated.
