Trump loses invite over 'demeaning' remarks

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was disinvited from a gathering of conservative activists after implying that a Fox News journalist had been menstruating during her tough questioning of him during atelevised debate.

Trump was dumped from a prime speaking role at the high-profile Red State event in Atlanta, Georgia, on account of his comment about Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly. Describing her questioning of him during the debate, Trump said in a CNN interview on Friday, "There was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever."

'A bridge too far'

Erick Erickson, editor of RedState.com, said he had disinvited Trump from the two-day event because of what he described as "demeaning" remarks about Kelly who was one of three moderators during the first major Republican debate on Thursday night in Cleveland.

"While I have tried to give him great latitude, his remark about Megyn Kelly was a bridge too far," Erickson said, adding he had invited Kelly, one of Fox's highest profile anchors, to attend his conference in Trump's place.

"It is unfortunate to have to disinvite him. But I just don't want someone on stage who gets a hostile question from a lady and his first inclination is to imply it was hormonal. It just was wrong," Erickson said.

Trump's campaign responded: "This is just another example of weakness through being politically correct. For all of the people who were looking forward to Mr. Trump coming, we will miss you. Blame Erick Erickson, your weak and pathetic leader."

In attempt to clarify his remark, Trump posted on Twitter that he had meant to say blood was coming out of Kelly's eyes and "nose" but that he had "just got on" with his thought.

Donald Trump's relationship with political correctness

Trump has a long history of lobbing insults at those he feels have treated him unfairly, and advises those who buy his books to do the same. He has repeatedly said that he had "no time" for political correctness and is regarded by many commentators abroad as an unlikely candidate despite his popularity.

The New York billionaire has been riding high in the polls in recent weeks as Republican search for their nominee to face the Democrats' choice in the November 2016 election. But Trump has not ruled out an independent bid either.

In April, Trump had retweeted, then deleted, a tweet that read, "If Hillary Clinton can't satisfy her husband, what makes her think she can satisfy America?"

ss/gsw (Reuters, AP, dpa)