Donald Trump is defending his latest round of disparaging comments about women. His target this time is a fellow Republican presidential hopeful.
In a cover story for Rolling Stone published Wednesday, Trump's vitriol was directed at fellow candidate Carly Fiorina's looks.
The article describes Trump and his staffers watching news clips, and when Fiorina appears on camera Trump says, "Look at that face," before checking himself and stepping back his comments against the lone female Republican candidate.
"Look at that face!" he cries. "Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?!" The laughter grows halting and faint behind him. "I mean, she's a woman, and I'm not s'posedta say bad things, but really, folks, come on. Are we serious?"
In an interview Thursday morning, Trump defended his comments, arguing that he wasn't actually referencing Fiorina's looks.
"I'm not talking about looks. I'm talking about persona," Trump told CNN's Chris Cuomo.
Trump clarifies comments on @CarlyFiorina's looks: "I'm talking about her persona" http://t.co/EgyUWqBYMS #TrumpOnCNN http://t.co/R1NxytRMkr— New Day (@NewDay) September 10, 2015
But Trump's remarks were already making waves.
@NewDay @CarlyFiorina I think what bothers me most is that Trump demonstrates time & again that he values women for their aesthetics only.— DuneMyThing (@Kris_Sacrebleu) September 10, 2015
Can we please stop pretending that Donald Trump is somebody to be admired, or that he is worthy of elevation to... http://t.co/EBLHN9w1oZ— Ken Crosson (@CrossonLawGroup) September 10, 2015
Now Trump insults Fiorina's looks! Maybe he gets campaigning and "Miss USA" mixed-up when women are in the race? pic.twitter.com/nnKr62CauE— Skook (@skookerG) September 10, 2015
Even this self-described Trump supporter voiced her frustration with his "petty fights" with other candidates.
I am a big Trump supporter however, these petty fights he gets into are turning me off. Latest fight was a win for #Fiorina— City Girl (@ConservCityGirl) September 10, 2015
In a phone interview Thursday on Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends," Trump acknowledged he "probably did say something like that."
But he said, "I'm talking about persona, not about looks," saying he spoke "in a jocular manner."
Shortly after the Rolling Stone article was published, Fiorina addressed the remarks during an interview with Fox host Megyn Kelly, herself a past victim of Trump's sexist remarks.
Fiorina responded with tact and redirected the conversation when asked pointedly about Trump's comments.
"I’m not going to spend a single cycle wondering what Donald Trump means," she said. "Maybe, just maybe, I’m getting under his skin a little bit because I am climbing in the polls."
Some information from the Associated Press.