Donald Trump and the art of the boomerang insult …
Clinton has accused Trump of being thin-skinned, feeding "prejudice and paranoia" and lacking any "real solutions."
Trump -- never one to dodge a fight -- has returned fire in recent weeks, calling Clinton "trigger-happy," a "bigot" and accusing her of running a "policy-free" campaign.
The Republican nominee has gotten plenty of attention for his trash-talking and bare-knuckle style. But he's also developed a sub-specialty: the boomerang insult.
Rather than running from the words his opponents hurl at him, Trump seizes them, shakes them up and turns them around. It's a strategy that muddies stark differences between Trump and his rivals, and helps neutralize political vulnerabilities.
Trump's GOP primary opponents also relentlessly pegged the brash billionaire with the same accusation as he sketched out, with little specificity, grandiose promises to rid America of all undocumented immigrants, send the economy roaring and force other countries to bend at the knee -- all while lowering the federal debt. And like with Clinton, Trump threw the attacks back.
"Hillary Clinton is running a policy-free campaign. She offers no ideas, no solutions and only hatred and derision," Trump said Tuesday during a rally in Clive, Iowa.
And on a call with reporters Tuesday morning previewing a new policy proposal, a Trump campaign official accused Clinton of "basically running a completely idea-free, issues-free campaign."
The attack is one Clinton has lobbed time and again at Trump.
"Donald Trump offers no real solutions for the economic challenges we face," Clinton said in June. "He just continues to spout reckless ideas that will run up our debt and cause another economic crash."
"Like a schoolyard bully who can't rely on facts or issues, Trump has only one way of responding to legitimate criticism of his own vulnerabilities: 'I know you are, but what am I?'" Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri said in a statement to CNN. "You could dismiss these actions as insecure schoolyard behavior but this man is running to be President of the United States."
The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
Over the past few weeks, Trump and Clinton have exchanged a volley of attacks on everything from the "bigotry" of each other's candidacies to the other's temperament to serve as commander-in-chief.
Just a day after Clinton said in an interview that jihadists were praying, "Oh please Allah, make Trump president of America," the Republican nominee fired back at his rival with ricochet-like reflex.
"Oh boy would they (ISIS) dream of having her as president," Trump said Friday during a speech in Washington. "Can you imagine? They dream about it every night having Hillary Clinton."
While Clinton has pointed to Trump's vitriolic rhetoric and quickness to fire off insults whenever he feels slighted, he has offered little evidence to back up his boomerang attack.
This week, the real estate mogul repeatedly slammed Clinton as "trigger-happy" and "unstable" as the two sparred over national security and each other's fitness to be commander-in-chief -- returning a frequent attack of Clinton's.
"Do we want him making those calls -- someone thin-skinned and quick to anger, who lashes out at the smallest criticism?" Clinton continued. "Do we want his finger anywhere near the button?"
One of Clinton's most persistent criticisms of Trump is his fitness to serve as commander in chief: that he lacks the "temperament" to be president.
"I have the best temperament," Trump has said repeatedly at rallies raising Clinton's attack. "She has bad temperament."
Trump, meanwhile, has returned the attack by pointing to Clinton's support for military interventions, including her vote for the Iraq War and her push for the US to intervene militarily in Libya -- both of which Trump publicly supported.
As Clinton prepared to deliver a speech eviscerating Trump for legitimizing white supremacists and cozying up to far-right extremists, Trump responded in kind.
"From the start, Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia," Clinton said last month in Reno, Nevada, slamming Trump for his "steady stream of bigotry."
Trump's retort came just hours after the Clinton campaign released snippets of the biting speech.
"Hillary Clinton is a bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings worthy of a better future," Trump said during a speech in Jackson, Mississippi.
Clinton, a Democrat who has forged deep ties with African-American leaders over her decades on the national political scene, has the support of more than 90% of black Americans, according to the latest polls.
Trump's support with black voters is in the single-digits.
See the rest here:
Donald Trump and the art of the boomerang insult ...
- Donald Trump is unpopular. Why is it so hard to stand up to him? - economist.com - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Donald Trump to attend U.S. Open mens final in first appearance since 2015: Source - The Athletic - The New York Times - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- When is Donald Trump's state visit to the UK and where will he go? - BBC - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- How Gavin Newsom's Favorability Ratings Compare to Donald Trump - Newsweek - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Asks For $15 Donations to 'Get to Heaven' - Newsweek - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Donald Trump Gathering 'Incredible Assets' for Offense in VenezuelaHegseth - Newsweek - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Where is Donald Trump today? On the golf course - CNN - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping meet: Donald Trump as the wildcard and other takeaways for India-China relationship - BBC - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- "Never Felt Better In My Life": Donald Trump Amid He Is 'Dead' Viral Trend - NDTV - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- Donald Trump says he will sign executive order requiring voter ID - USA Today - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- Donald Trump seen heading to golf course after strange speculation about his health - New York Post - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- Social Security Will Change Forever on Sept. 30, Courtesy of President Donald Trump - Yahoo Finance - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- Social Media Reacts to Donald Trump, 79, Golfing With Grandkids After Death Hoax - yahoo.com - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- Even at Yosemite, 'the shadow of Donald Trump is over everything' - Politico - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- Breakingviews - Donald Trump is weaker than he looks - Reuters - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- The fight over the future of college football is here. Enter Donald Trump. - Politico - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- Fact check: 10 debunked lies Donald Trump has repeated in the last week alone - CNN - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]
- Neil Young confronts Donald Trump in new song Big Crime: Dont want soldiers on the streets - The Guardian - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]
- Does It Matter That Donald Trump Is Confused by Magnets? - Reason Magazine - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Judge Stunned by Donald Trump's Lawyers Arguing With Themselves - Newsweek - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Revs Up His Revenge Goons - Mother Jones - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Donald Trump, 79, Struggles to Walk in a Straight Line at Golf Outing - The Daily Beast - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Donald Trump vs. Antonin Scalia on burning the American flag - CNN - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Donald Trump: Inside the Indian factories hit hard by US's 50% tariffs - BBC - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Kicks His Own Staffer Out of Oval Office After Phone Noise Interrupts His Speech: 'Get Out of the Room' - People.com - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Donald Trump's Approval Rating Underwater in All but Three Polls Last Week - Newsweek - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Illinois leaders speak out on Washington Post report President Donald Trump preparing to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago - ABC7 Chicago - August 24th, 2025 [August 24th, 2025]
- NC pastor: Donald Trump is worried about getting into heaven. He shouldnt be. | Opinion - Charlotte Observer - August 24th, 2025 [August 24th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Jr. wants federal takeover of these Democratic craphole cities - AL.com - August 24th, 2025 [August 24th, 2025]
- South Koreas president heads into talks with Donald Trump on troops, trade and Pyongyang - Financial Times - August 24th, 2025 [August 24th, 2025]
- Opinion | Donald Trump and selective prosecution - The Washington Post - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump to Make Televised Announcement From Oval Office: What to Know - Newsweek - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump Threatens Total Takeover of Washington, DC - Newsweek - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Stick to politics? How Donald Trump is using sports to advance his agenda - The New York Times - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump has purged one of the CIAs most senior Russia analysts - The Economist - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump is becoming the greatest unifier of Europe since the end of the cold war - The Guardian - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- 'DONALD IS FINISHED': Newsom goes on offense with Trump mockery campaign - MSNBC News - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Donald Trump's Jimmy Carter Comment Trashed by Former Colleague - Newsweek - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Took Over DCs Police. Why Is the Citys Mayor So Zen? - Politico - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Donald Trump celebrates his pantheon of Trump-approved stars - CNN - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Why Donald Trump is wrong to take over the DC police - The Economist - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Gavin Newsom Issues New Warning to Donald Trump: 'Playing with Fire' - Newsweek - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Donald Trump's Approval Rating Suddenly Slides With Conservatives - Newsweek - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Instead of sanctions, Donald Trump announces a summit with Russia - The Economist - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- Emma Thompson Says Donald Trump Asked Her on a Date the Same Day She Got Divorced: 'I Thought It Was a Joke' - People.com - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- Emma Thompson Says Donald Trump Asked Her Out on a Date - Variety - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- Donald Trump brokers a peace plan in the Caucasus - The Economist - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- Shes the one that matters: the growing influence of Melania on Donald Trump - The Guardian - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- Donald Trump, Master Builder of Castles in the Air - The New Yorker - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- Emma Thompson on Getting a Stalking Call From Donald Trump and Why Harry Potter Is Not Really an Important Part of My Creative Endeavor - The... - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- President Donald Trump's approval rating by state as of August 2025 - yahoo.com - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- The NHL preached inclusion. So why has it got into bed with Donald Trump? - The Guardian - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- Donald Trump's Executive Order Changing 401(k)s: What To Know - Newsweek - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- Donald Trump says FBI 'may have to' get involved in ending Texas quorum break - KUT - August 6th, 2025 [August 6th, 2025]
- The one thing Donald Trump isnt saying about tariffs - The Guardian - August 6th, 2025 [August 6th, 2025]
- From friend to foe: Behind the tangled relationship between Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump - Los Angeles Times - August 3rd, 2025 [August 3rd, 2025]
- Donald Trump thinks hes winning on trade, but America will lose - The Economist - August 3rd, 2025 [August 3rd, 2025]
- The inside story of the Murdoch editor taking on Donald Trump | Wall Street Journal - The Guardian - August 3rd, 2025 [August 3rd, 2025]
- US tariffs and South Africa: Donald Trump presses ahead with 30% tax - BBC - August 1st, 2025 [August 1st, 2025]
- Donald Trump's Name in Jeffrey Epstein Files Redacted by FBI: Report - Newsweek - August 1st, 2025 [August 1st, 2025]
- Will the Kennedy Center become the Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts? - NPR - July 30th, 2025 [July 30th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Claims He Was Not Solely Responsible for Canceling Stephen Colberts Late Show, Adds Less Talented Jimmy Kimmel and Very Insecure Jimmy... - July 30th, 2025 [July 30th, 2025]
- Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein: I've told a story about them for years. Now people are listening. - Slate Magazine - July 30th, 2025 [July 30th, 2025]
- Renaming the Kennedy Center for Donald and Melania Trump would violate the law that created it - NBC News - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- Donald Trump continues feud with Sadiq Khan calling him a nasty person - BBC - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Says He 'Never Had the Privilege' to Go to Epstein's Island - People.com - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- Not so Crazy in Love: Why is Donald Trump demanding that Beyonc be prosecuted? - Euronews.com - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- Watch: Donald Trump accused of cheating at golf - Yahoo Sports - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Says His Name May Have Been Planted in Jeffrey Epstein Files - Newsweek - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- As an American in Scotland, I know we need many things but Donald Trump isnt one of them | Krystal Evans - The Guardian - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- What to know about Donald Trump's executive order on NIL and college sports - NBC News - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- What do we know about Donald Trump's visit to Scotland? - BBC - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Were terribly sorry: South Park creators respond with humour to White House anger over naked Donald Trump - The Guardian - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- South Parks most furious episode ever: the jaw-dropping Satanic takedown of Donald Trump - The Guardian - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Donald Trump will add to pressure on Jerome Powell with visit to Federal Reserve - The Guardian - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Donald Trump visit to Scotland expected to be met with wave of protest - The Guardian - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- South Park Season 27 Premiere Puts Donald Trump in Bed With Satan - Variety - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Video of Jeffrey Epstein Talking About Donald Trump Resurfaces - Newsweek - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- The King of Soccer: How Gianni Infantino won over Donald Trump and just about every other politician in America - Politico - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- How Donald Trump is using the courts to push through his agenda - BBC - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]