Jeb Bush flung his bluntest insult yet at Republican front-runner Donald Trump after months of trading insults with the big-talking billionaire.
“Just one other thing — I gotta get this off my chest — Donald Trump is a jerk,” the mostly mild-mannered former Florida governor said at a campaign stop in Contoocock, N.H., on Saturday.
“You cannot insult your way to the presidency,” Bush added in a line he has used before against Trump. “You can’t disparage women, Hispanics, disabled people. Who is he kidding?”
The remark came after a man with Asperger’s sydrome asked Bush what he would do for disabled people.
Bush discussed his work on Florida’s disability system, then turned his attention to Trump, who in the past has called Bush “boring” and “low energy.”
In November, Trump was accused of mocking a New York Times’ reporter with a disability during a campaign speech. Trump unconvincingly denied the claims.
“I feel better now,” Bush said after ripping Trump. “I gave myself therapy there. Thank you for allowing me to do it.”
Speaking later Saturday at an event in Iowa, Trump took multiple shots at Bush, whose national poll numbers Trump characterized as “close to zero.”
“He’s an embarassment,” Trump said.
Touting support from investor Carl Ichan, Trump said he doesn’t want politicians’ backing.
“I don’t want Jeb Bush’s endorsement,” Trump said. “He’s not tough. He’s not smart.”
Bush currently sits at No. 4 on the Washington Examiner‘s presidential power rankings.
