The old adage “stick with what works” seems to be Donald Trump’s campaign motto. The billionaire GOP presidential hopeful added to his lead in the polls after swiping at Fox News host and first debate co-moderator Megyn Kelly over what he viewed as unfair questions about his past comments about women. After a “truce” was called between Trump and Fox News, the candidate continued to appear on the network regularly. But the truce appears to be over.
For her part, Kelly has refrained from engaging in a back-and-forth with Trump, ignoring his name calling and criticism of her work. This was made easier for her by the fact that she was not on air the week after the debate, having gone on a scheduled vacation. Now she’s back, and so, it appears, is Trump’s venom, though mostly express through proxy, relatively inactive Twitter accounts.
It started with a direct criticism from Trump of Kelly’s interview with Dr. Cornell West on #BlackLivesMatter and the USA Today op-ed written by another GOP hopeful, Dr. Ben Carson.
.@megynkelly must have had a terrible vacation, she is really off her game. Was afraid to confront Dr. Cornel West. No clue on immigration!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
From there it got more personal.
I liked The Kelly File much better without @megynkelly. Perhaps she could take another eleven day unscheduled vacation!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
Trump then began retweeting negative comments about Kelly by rarely used or anonymous Twitter accounts.
"@ColeHudson68: @megynkelly @FoxNews @theBlaze @greta @OreillyFactor Megyn needs to go back on vacation. What a waste of an hour on Fox."
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
Including a tweet commenting on Kelly’s looks.
"@bigpaulfla: @realDonaldTrump She has come back looking like Nancy Grace"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
And another calling Kelly a “bimbo.”
"@mstanish53: @realDonaldTrump @megynkelly The bimbo back in town . I hope not for long ."
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
After taking a break to retweet a swipe at fellow GOP contender Jeb Bush because he “speaks Mexican;”
"@YoungYoung54: @JeriHyatt @megynkelly @JebBush So true. Jeb Bush is crazy, who cares that he speaks Mexican, this is America, English !!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
"@PatrickStinard: @megynkelly Kelly File was much better without Megyn Kelly. Her replacement while she was out on vacation was much better!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
"@MikeRaj7: @megynkelly Show has become a opinion show. Leading questions, Stirrwalt and Thiessen, used, Fair and balanced, NOT"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2015
While having sent few tweets to very few followers, these accounts have been vocal in their support for Trump. Perhaps he has inspired otherwise inactive users to get involved in social media, or perhaps they are proxy accounts used to insulate Trump from directly having to engage in criticisms of those he uses as a foil.