Trump under GOP fire over disparaging Kelly remarks

Front-runner Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has come under fire over his disparaging remarks about Fox News host Megyn Kelly, who moderated the first GOP debate.

Kelly was one of three moderators during the Republican debate on Thursday at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

During the debate, she asked Trump to respond to derogatory statements he had made in the past about women, calling them "fat pigs," "dogs," and "slobs." Trump attempted to wave off the question and dismissed Kelly.

On Friday, Trump accused Kelly of singling him out during the heated debate by asking what he called unfair questions. The billionaire said Kelly was tough on him because she was menstruating. “You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her – wherever.”

On Saturday, several of Trump’s competitors in the Republican presidential race slammed the outspoken businessman’s attack on Kelly.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush said Trump is repelling female voters by speaking against Kelly and other women.

“What Donald Trump said is wrong,” he said. “Mr. Trump should apologize.”

“What he said does not win elections,” said Bush, who is Trump’s closest competitor in many polls. “Worse yet, it is not something that brings people together.”

“Do we really want to say things that alienate 53 percent of the population?” he asked of Republican 2016 contenders.

Fox News and Facebook hosted the debate among the top ten candidates seeking the Republican Party's presidential nomination for the next year election.

Trump, Bush, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Kentucky Senator Marco Rubio, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Ohio Governor John Kasich participated in the debate.

Walker wrote on his Twitter account that “there’s no excuse for Trump’s comments.”

“@MegynKelly is a tough interview,” Walker added. “Being POTUS is tougher. @GOP candidates & media need to get back to how we’re going to turn US around.”

Perry said in a statement that Trump’s repeated blunders make him unfit to participate in the 2016 presidential race.

“Donald Trump has proven once again that he doesn’t have the temperament to hold the nation’s highest office,” Perry said.

"Attacking veterans, Hispanics and women demonstrates a serious lack of character and basic decency, and his comments distract from the serious issues facing our country,” he added.

Trump has surged into the lead in the race for the White House, despite a series of controversial statements.

The 69-year-old has sparked a controversy by denouncing the military record of Republican Senator John McCain. He has also come under severe criticism for his inflammatory comments about Mexican immigrants in the US, calling them drug dealers and “rapists.”

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