Republican nominee Donald Trump was pleased with himself after Monday’s debate for exercising restraint when it came to Bill Clinton’s many affairs. Although he didn’t mention Bill’s infidelity during the debate, he did bring it up afterwards — and Chelsea Clinton wasn’t surprised.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump went head to head Monday night in a record setting presidential debate. Lester Holt moderated the debate that covered a variety of key topics, although there were a number of issues that weren’t brought into question.
Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at the start of their first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, U.S., September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
“I’m very happy that I was able to hold back on the indiscretions with respect to Bill Clinton,” Trump said in reference to the former president’s affairs. “Because I have a lot of respect for Chelsea Clinton and I just didn’t want to say what I was going to say.”
Bill Clinton and Melania Trump shake hands at the debate (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
In an interview with Cosmopolitan published on Tuesday, Clinton revealed how she reacted to Trump’s remarks.
“My reaction to that is just what my reaction has been kind of every time Trump has gone after my mom or my family, which is that it’s a distraction from his inability to talk about what’s actually at stake in this election,” Clinton told Cosmo. (RELATED: Election Won’t Come Between Ivanka Trump And Chelsea Clinton)
“I don’t remember a time in my life when my parents and my family weren’t being attacked, and so it just sort of seems to be in that tradition, unfortunately,” the Democratic nominee’s daughter admitted.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton stands with her daughter Chelsea (L), vice presidential running mate Senator Tim Kaine (C, rear) and her husband former President Bill Clinton. REUTERS/Mike Segar – RTSK6YT
However, what Clinton found “most troubling” were Trump’s “continued, relentless attacks on whole swaths of our country and even our global community: women, Muslims, Americans with disabilities, a Gold Star family,” Clinton listed. “I mean, that, to me, is far more troubling than whatever his most recent screed against my mom or my family [is].”
Trump recalled the moment in the debate where he hesitated on Chelsea’s behalf. “When she hit me at the end with the women, I was going to hit her with her husband’s women, and I decided I shouldn’t do it because [her] daughter was in the room.”
REUTERS/Adrees Latif
“I didn’t feel comfortable doing it,” Trump told Fox and Friends. “I think I did the right thing. It’s not worth a point,” he added. “I didn’t feel comfortable doing it with Chelsea in the room. I think Chelsea’s a fine young lady.”
Chelsea and Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, are actually good friends — despite their parents campaigning against one another. “We were friends long before this election; we will be friends long after this election,” Chelsea told The View earlier this month.