How to use federal anti-bullying guidelines to defeat Donald Trump


Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is facing off against 10 of his rivals at the Reagan Library tonight for the second GOP presidential debate, and CNN has promised verbal fisticuffs. None of those candidates should take the bait, argues Dana Milbank at The Washington Post. Ignoring and punching back at Trump have only fueled his rise in the polls, "because his opponents are following the wrong script," Milbank says. "They treat him as if he were a conventional candidate, and not the schoolyard bully he has been acting like."
In fact, Milbank adds, the other, non-Trump GOP candidates and Republican leaders " would do better going to StopBullying.gov, the website for a public-service campaign run by the Department of Health and Human Services." If you replace every mention of "child" or "children" with "candidate" or "candidates," you get some pretty sage advice for Trump's opponents on-stage and off:
StopBullying.gov has some wisdom for CNN's Jake Tapper, the moderator of Wednesday's debate, when he (inevitably) encounters Trump’s bullying. “Intervene immediately. It is okay to get another adult to help.... Don't think candidates can work it out without adult help." And the targets of Trump's bullying? "Look at the candidate bullying you and tell him or her to stop in a calm, clear voice. You can also try to laugh it off." [The Washington Post]
If you see some good forced laughs at the debate tonight, somebody's been doing his or her homework.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections