Beto Shrugs At Trump’s Critique Of His Gesticulating: ‘I’m Pretty Animated’

Newly minted presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke shrugged off President Donald Trump’s jab at his energetic hand movements Friday morning, acknowledging that he’s “pretty animated.”

He told CBS’ Gayle King that he’d been told that he gestures too much during his 2018 Senate race as well. “I am who I am,” he said.

“And I really do think we all want to get past the pettiness, the personal attacks,” O’Rourke continued, alluding to his promise of a positive campaign. “Let’s not put anybody down. Instead, let’s lift each other up. Let’s bring out the absolute best from our fellow Americans — every single one of them from every single community.”

Trump made fun of O’Rourke’s gesticulating Thursday during a press conference with the Irish prime minister.

“Well I think he’s got a lot of hand movement, I’ve never seen so much hand movement,” Trump told reporters. “I said, ‘Is he crazy or is that just the way he acts?’ I’ve never seen hand movement. I watched him a little while this morning doing, I assume it was some kind of a news conference, and I’ve actually never seen anything like it. Study it. I’m sure you’ll agree.”