Donald Trump unleashes raging 12-tweet barrage, threatens lawsuit at 'irrelevant' rival
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Donald Trump has fired off one of his most furious tweetstorms to date.
The real-estate magnate's target on Thursday night: Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, a Republican presidential rival.
Politico reported earlier in the evening that a pro-Kasich super PAC was planning to unload $2.5 million or more to take down Trump, the Republican front-runner, in New Hampshire.
This prompted a dozen-tweet barrage by Trump against Kasich, ripping the PAC's attack as "pathetic" and calling the governor a "dud" over the report, among many other things.
"I want to do negative ads on John Kasich, but he is so irrelevant to the race that I don’t want to waste my money," Trump said.
"Watch Kasich squirm --- if he is not truthful in his negative ads I will sue him just for fun!" he continued.
The billionaire apparently took his threat beyond Twitter. The super PAC, New Day for America, published a letter from The Trump Organization's lawyer warning that Trump would promptly seek "legal action" against the committee if its ads lied about Trump.
"It has come to my attention that you plan on producing and disseminating certain radio, television, and newspaper advertisements directly and personally attacking my client," Trump's lawyer, Alan Garten, wrote in the letter, which was also addressed to the Kasich campaign.
"Please be advised that in the event your ads contain any false, misleading, defamatory or otherwise tortious statements or representations concerning Mr. Trump's business or his brand, we will not hesitate to seek immediate legal action," it continued.
The letter concluded: "Please be guided accordingly."
The letter was similar in nature to a September cease-and-desist letter The Trump Organization sent to a conservative group, the Club for Growth, that ran attack ads against Trump in Iowa. Some eyebrows were raised because the letter was sent from Trump's corporation rather than from his campaign.
Matt David, New Day for America's chief strategist, responded to Trump's letter in a statement late Thursday.
"Mr. Trump's been successful in suing his way to financial gain," David said. "Unfortunately, you can't sue your way to the Oval Office."
"Trump can hire every trial lawyer in the country, but voters will ultimately decide this election," he continued. "You can't sue ISIS away. Suing Vladimir Putin won't evict Russia from the Ukraine. The role of commander-in-chief requires leadership, not lawyers."
Business Insider reached out to The Trump Organization for comment.
For his part, Kasich went on his own rival tweetstorm and issued a fund-raising message to supporters on Trump's "epic Twitter rant."
Trump's tweetstorm:
Governor Kasich, whose failed campaign & debating skills have brought him way down in the polls, is going to spend $2.5 million against me.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
John Kasich should focus his special interest money on building up his failed image, not negative ads on me.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
John Kasich, despite being Governor of Ohio, is losing to me in the Ohio polls. Pathetic!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
I want to do negative ads on John Kasich, but he is so irrelevant to the race that I don’t want to waste my money.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
Watch Kasich squirm --- if he is not truthful in his negative ads I will sue him just for fun!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
Kasich has already spent $6 million on ads in New Hampshire and his numbers have gone down. People from NH are smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
I loved beating John Kasich in the debates, but it was easy—he came in dead last!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
John Kasich ad guy wanted to work for me, but his proposal was a rip off – I said NO! Now ripping Kasich.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
John Kasich fell right into President Obama’s trap on ObamaCare, and the people of Ohio are suffering for it. Shame!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
Once John Kasich announced he was running for president, and opened his mouth, people realized he was a complete & total dud!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
John Kasich was managing director of Lehman Brothers when it crashed, bringing down the world and ruining people's lives. A total failure!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2015
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