Trump claims he has 'thick skin,' starts war with National Review anyway


Donald Trump might want to Google "Rich Lowry."
On Wednesday night'sThe Kelly File, Lowry — the editor of the widely respected conservative journal National Review, which was founded by William F. Buckley Jr. — took a rather graphic stab at Trump, joking that Carly Fiorina had castrated him during the latest Republican debate. Trump jumped on Twitter to slam back, saying Lowry "should not be allowed on TV and the FCC should fine him!" Lowry tweeted back at Trump, saying, "Man, you can dish it out but you REALLY, REALLY can't take it."
Then, on CNN Thursday morning, Trump returned fire, saying he had "never even heard of" Lowry before. The host, Alisyn Camerota, questioned if Trump couldn't take some criticism.
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"I don't mind being criticized. I don't mind at all," Trump said. "If I do something wrong, Alisyn, I have very thick skin."
Trump also took his feud with the National Review editor to MSNBC's Morning Joe. Host Joe Scarborough said, "You're at odds with Fox News. We know how powerful they are in the Republican Party. And you're at war with Rich Lowry, who is the editor of National Review, which is really sort of the gold standard of conservative magazines."
Trump replied, "I don't think anybody reads it, Joe. I think it has no power whatsoever. I'll be honest. I think it has no power whatsoever. And he's not a respected guy."
Scarborough, a former Republican congressman, told the GOP presidential frontrunner that he reads National Review. Trump's reply: "You're the only one." Jeva Lange
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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