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Donald Trump is using Jeb Bush’s mom to troll Jeb Bush

Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images

Donald Trump turned to an unusual source for his latest attack on Republican rival Jeb Bush: Jeb’s mom.

In an Instagram post, Trump highlighted previous comments Barbara Bush made when asked whether she thought her son should run for president. “No. I really don’t,” she said in 2013. “I think it’s a great country. There are a lot of great families. There are other people out there that are very qualified, and we’ve had enough Bushes.”

Even Barbara Bush agrees with me.

A video posted by Donald J. Trump (@realdonaldtrump) on

This is a bit misleading. While Bush did initially say that she doesn’t think her son should run for president, she later changed her mind and embraced Jeb’s campaign.

But Bush’s comments do tap into one of the key reasons Trump is leading in the polls. Many people are tired of the Republican establishment and what they view as dynastic politics. Given that we’re only seven years separated from a Bush administration, these people still view Jeb as a symbol of the establishment. Trump, with his blunt speaking style, represents a sharp shift from that establishment — and a lot of Republican voters like it.


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