Perhaps the confrontation was inevitable. Trump has been attacking Bush over his personality (“a low-energy guy,” is the favorite attack line), his policies (“he’ll now find out it’s not an act of love,” Trump jibed Bush over embracing immigration reform), and even his wife (“Jeb Bush has to like the Mexican Illegals because of his wife,” Trump tweeted). Bush’s allies defend the Trump engagement by arguing: How will people see him as a tough commander in chief if he doesn’t get upset at the guy hitting him so personally? “There’s no path for success in cowering into a corner and hoping for the best,” Bush spokesman Tim Miller said.
But so far, Bush has been sparring with Trump joylessly, underscoring his distaste for political theater. As National Review editor-in-chief Rich Lowry put it, Bush attacking Trump is “like watching a WWE wrestler get a stern talking to from Ned Flanders.”
Join the conversation as a VIP Member