Donald Trump expresses 'regret' for words that 'may have caused personal pain'

(Image credit: AP/YouTube)

published 19 August 2016

At speech in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday night, Donald Trump told the audience that he has misspoken "in the heat of debate, and speaking on a multitude of issues," and that "believe it or not, I regret it." Speaking from a teleprompter for the third time this week, Trump did not specify which comments he regretted, but he did say, "I do regret it, particularly where it may have caused personal pain. Too much is at stake for us to be consumed with these issues."

This was Trump's first rally since bringing on a combative new campaign CEO, Stephen Bannon. Hillary Clinton's campaign shrugged off the unexpected change in tone. "Donald Trump literally started his campaign by insulting people," spokeswoman Christina Reynolds said in a statement. "He has continued to do so through each of the 428 days from then until now, without shame or regret. We learned tonight that his speechwriter and teleprompter knows he has much for which he should apologize."

Trump has been unapologetic after previous controversial comments, saying just 16 days ago about sparring with the parents of Iraq War casualty Humayun Khan, "I don't regret anything." The political press generally took a wait-and-see approach to whether this week and this speech marks the beginning of the long-expected Trump "pivot," but Never Trump Republicans seem pretty skeptical:

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The rest of the speech had some of his usual barbs about Clinton's honesty and Obama and Clinton at least allowing the Islamic State, as well as some sections that could have been written by Aaron Sorkin. As Washington Post editor Steven Ginsberg commented, "If Trump is like this until Nov. it will be a great test of when voters decide and when campaigns are won and lost."

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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.