Watch Donald Trump call Bernie Sanders a 'socialist/communist' and a 'maniac'

Donald Trump takes verbal aim at Bernie Sanders — (Image credit: AP/YouTube)

It appears that after Tuesday night's Democratic debate, Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has a new target for his barbs: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). The preferred Republican line of attack this year is that the Democratic presidential candidates are promising to give stuff away for free. Trump took up the charge (from previous punching bag Jeb Bush, ironically) at a rally in Virginia on Wednesday, saying he didn't blame Hillary Clinton for joining in "because this maniac that was standing on her right is giving everything away" and she wants to win. Returning to Sanders later, he said: "Nobody's heard the word 'communist,' but you know what? I call him a socialist/communist, okay, because that's what he is." As for the other three Democrats on stage, Trump couldn't be bothered: "Nobody even knows who the hell they are — who are they?" Trump's insults appear to have damaged the political standing of his Republican rivals — we'll see if they have the same effect, or the opposite one, on the Democrats. Peter Weber

The Week

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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.