Even after gaining serious momentum in the polls, Donald Trump’s flustered hair and blustery rhetoric was mostly a joke – the loud-mouthed billionaire was treated more like a punchline than a politician, existing in entertainment sections and late-night talk shows as a stranger-than-fiction parody of the American political system.
But with the Republican primaries beginning in two months, Trump’s candor has crossed into territories of unabashed hatefulness. His new call to ban Muslims from the United States has irked some of his fellow G.O.P. candidates into speaking out:
Donald Trump is unhinged. His "policy" proposals are not serious.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) December 7, 2015
I disagree with Donald Trump's latest proposal. His habit of making offensive and outlandish statements will not bring Americans together.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 8, 2015
Every candidate for president needs to do the right thing & condemn @Realdonaldtrump's statement.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 7, 2015
And the Democrats:
We cannot turn against one another by letting this fight be defined as a war between America and Islam. pic.twitter.com/rUgsaBF2su
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 7, 2015
The U.S. is a strong nation when we stand together. We are weak when we allow racism and xenophobia to divide us. cc: @realDonaldTrump
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) December 7, 2015
Tell Donald Trump: Hate is not an American value. pic.twitter.com/qlhuKPKwn0
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 8, 2015
Some pointed out the cartoonishness of his actions:
How horrible. Voldemort was nowhere near as bad. https://t.co/hFO0XmOpPH
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 8, 2015
Donald Trump is basically a YouTube comment section running for president
— Brian Gaar (@briangaar) December 7, 2015
While some news outlets even going so far as comparing him to Adolf Hitler:
Today's Daily News, 12/08/15 #DNFrontpage pic.twitter.com/MTxKv11oBd
— Philly Daily News (@PhillyDailyNews) December 8, 2015
Others got serious about his place in the media:
A note on Trump: we are no longer entertained https://t.co/ECjKQIc4MM
— Arianna Huffington (@ariannahuff) December 8, 2015
Some American mayors took the liberty of (jokingly) banning Trump from their cities:
I am hereby barring Donald Trump from entering St. Petersburg until we fully understand the dangerous threat posed by all Trumps.
— Rick Kriseman (@Kriseman) December 8, 2015
Ya know, I think Mayor Kriseman is on to something here... https://t.co/txdhBwBlFS
— Mayor Jim Griffith (@JimGriffith_SV) December 8, 2015
Some Canadian politicians also voiced their opinions on Twitter:
It's unacceptable to ban immigrants based on their religion but it is acceptable to ban someone for spouting hate, Mr. Trump. #BanTrump
— Tom Mulcair (@ThomasMulcair) December 8, 2015
I believe the owners of Toronto's Trump Tower should change its name. Toronto is a diverse & respectful city. Donald Trump is a fascist.
— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) December 8, 2015
