Despite his disdain for Fox News's Megyn Kelly, Trump couldn't help but watch her hit show, "The Kelly File," on Monday night. This, by the way, was Kelly's first day back from a vacation she went on shortly after their debate flap.
And the Republican presidential front-runner apparently hasn't cooled off from his one-sided battle with Kelly during the Aug. 6 debate, where Kelly asked him questions about his past misogynistic comments about women.
Nearly a month later, here's what Trump had to say about Enemy No. 1:
.@megynkelly must have had a terrible vacation, she is really off her game. Was afraid to confront Dr. Cornel West. No clue on immigration!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
I liked The Kelly File much better without @megynkelly. Perhaps she could take another eleven day unscheduled vacation!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
As Trump is wont to do, he then retweeted fellow 'Kelly File' watchers who purported to agree with him. Most of them were pretty base -- including one commenter who called her a "bimbo." The comments were exactly the kind of material Trump has been criticized for.
"@bigpaulfla: @realDonaldTrump She has come back looking like Nancy Grace"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
"@MikeRaj7: @megynkelly Show has become a opinion show. Leading questions, Stirrwalt and Thiessen, used, Fair and balanced, NOT"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
"@mstanish53: @realDonaldTrump @megynkelly The bimbo back in town . I hope not for long ."
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
(It's also not the first time Trump has retweeted supporters calling Kelly a bimbo, FYI. He did the same right after the debate.)
Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly was a moderator at the Republican presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio, earlier this month (Getty)
With Trump's tweetstorm done, a few minutes later he retweeted this reassurance from a supporter.
"@AdriannaMarie: @realDonaldTrump People always take cheap shots at you,they can't handle the truth.You tell it like it is.They're cowards.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
A psychologist might call that tweet a Freudian slip. Trump is the one taking cheap shots at his supposed enemies, apparently unbowed by accusations that he's a misogynist or that he stop biting the hand that feeds him (Fox News).
That's because Trump's MO is to double down on what he says, whether that's hating the haters or lodging conspiracy theories about "rapist" illegal immigrants. He's lost business deals and TV shows in the aftermath of such comments, but refusing to apologize for them has been working for Trump politically. He's leading many Republican polls in large part because voters like that he'll say anything -- and not apologize for it.
But Trump's attacks on Kelly seem slightly more mean-spirited than his previous altercations. He appears to be zeroing in on Kelly in part because she hasn't appeared sufficiently remorseful (in Trump's eyes) for her tough (and fair) questioning of him during the debate.
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As The Fix boss has pointed out, Kelly hosts one of the most-watched news shows on cable TV. She's likable and has real influence among conservatives. In attacking Kelly, Trump is attacking the face of Fox News and proving his critics right.
But here's the thing: Trump doesn't care. Trump bullying Kelly on Twitter is classic Trump. Even if it damages his business and/or political career, Donald Trump can't stop being Donald Trump. And, weirdly, it's working.
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