DES MOINES, Iowa — Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush panned Donald Trump’s decision to skip Thursday’s GOP debate after the escalation of his spat with Fox News, and referred to him as “poor little Donald.”
“He is apparently not going to come to the debate, although I’ve got a $20 bet that he’ll show up,” Bush told a crowd of 350.
“He thinks he’s not being treated fairly. Really? Donald not being treated fairly by the press? He consumes the press,” Bush said. “It’s like he’s a Stradivarius violinist from the Vienna symphony man. I mean, the press is being played like it’s nobody’s business.”
“Poor little Donald,” Bush continued. “How do you think the general election will work out? Or a deal with Putin? Or dealing with the challenges of being president? That notion just doesn’t pass muster. That just doesn’t make any sense.”
Bush added that it’s not on Trump’s interest to miss the debate, but when asked if Trump’s absence would have any impact, Bush shrugged.
Along with Sen. Ted Cruz, Bush has been one of Trump’s preeminent critics in recent weeks. The former Florida governor also told attendees that Trump’s nomination will “lead to electoral disaster” for the GOP come November.
Bush is set to be one of seven on stage if Trump remains firm in his decision, and Sen. Rand Paul will rejoin the main debate stage after missing out on the previous one.
Bush and Trump are currently fifth and first on the Washington Examiner‘s presidential power rankings, respectively.
