Ohio Gov. John Kasich approved another shot across Donald Trump’s bow. Kasich’s campaign sent a parody press release from the “Trump Putin” campaign announcing the Russian president as Trump’s running mate.
The satire press release reads: “In a bold and visionary move characteristic of everything he does, today terrific billionaire Donald Trump named Russian President Vladimir Putin as his running mate in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. Trump pledged that together with Putin he would ‘Make Tyranny Great Again.’”
The Kasich campaign joined other Republican presidential candidates in criticizing Trump, who appeared happy about Putin’s compliments of him on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Friday.
However, when the program’s hosts pointed out that Putin is accused of killing political enemies and reporters as well as a past of aggressively invading countries, like the Ukraine, Trump responded, “Our country does plenty of killing also.” (RELATED: Trump Downplays Putin Killing Journalists, Dissidents [VIDEO])
Former Florida Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush immediately shot out a response on Twitter saying, “A true freedom-loving conservative wouldn’t be flattered by praise from a despot like Putin.” He added, “Does Donald even know Putin backs Iran/Assad? Does he care? We must stand up to Putin not coddle him.”
Trump hit back at Bush gloating that the Florida GOP’er “embarrassed himself & his family with his incompetent campaign for president.” He went further to say, “The last thing our country needs is another BUSH! Dumb as a rock!” (RELATED: Jeb Bush Calls Donald Trump ‘A Jerk’ [VIDEO])
Trump doubled down on his original statement about Putin when asked by Fox News.com about his remarks.
“It is always a great honor to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond.”
Trump added: “I have always felt that Russia and the United States should be able to work well with each other towards defeating terrorism and restoring world peace, not to mention trade and all of the other benefits derived from mutual respect.”