FORT DODGE, Iowa — Businessman Donald Trump criticized Republican rival Ben Carson on Thursday in Fort Dodge for possibly embellishing stories about his troubled youth.
At one point, Trump stepped out from behind the podium to re-enact one of those stories in which Carson has said that, in a fit of rage, he tried to stab a friend but was blocked by the friend’s belt buckle.
“I have a belt,” Trump said, opening his jacket and revealing his midsection. “Somebody hits me with a knife, it’s going in because the belt moves this way. It moves this way. It moves that way! It moves the buckle! Anybody have a knife and want to try it on me?”
Some aspects of Carson’s personal history have recently come under fire as media outlets have attempted to verify stories he’s told about his past. A CNN investigation could not verify the stabbing story or others.
Carson criticized the media and repeatedly said that those events did occur, but Trump said he is skeptical.
“How stupid are the people of Iowa?” Trump asked. “How stupid are the people of the country to believe this crap?”
The stabbing story in particular has been pivotal to Carson’s narrative; he wrote that after that incident, he went into a bathroom and prayed. When he exited, he was a Christian and began to reshape his life.
“Give me a break. It doesn’t happen that way,” said Trump. “It doesn’t happen that way. And some people might not like (what I’ve said) — ‘Oh, that’s not really nice, what you say.’ Don’t be fools. Don’t be fools, OK?”
And although the comments drew applause and laughter from the crowd, some attendees said they felt Trump went too far.
“I think he should stay away from slamming these other guys, even though he can do it hard,” said Michael McGivney, a Gowrie resident who currently is homeschooling his grandkids. ”It’s not necessary. I think people, when you talk about division in the country, that’s the last thing you need, you know, to start dividing people who are up there. Everybody’s trying to do something positive for the country this time. Just give them all their due and let the best man win.”
He said otherwise he thought Trump was energetic and funny, and he’s still considering voting for him.
Linda Albright, a Gowrie resident and registered Democrat, said she also enjoyed Trump’s speech but wished he had stayed clear of the attacks.
In addition to Carson, Trump hit on Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, George Pataki and John Kasich.
“I thought he was excellent,” Albright said. “But I didn’t think he needed to be so derogatory — to go negative about others. I just really wanted to hear his platform and what he had to say. What changes he was going to make.”
Albright said she likes that Trump is assertive and would “definitely” consider voting for him.
“I think we need somebody who’s strong, who’s going to go to work, going to get people back working, and keep the businesses in the United States instead of overseas,” she said.
