News Digest

Trump dumped from speaking event in Atlanta over ‘blood’ comments

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been dumped from a prime speaking role to an important gathering of conservative activists for his criticism of Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly after a combustible debate performance. Trump was scheduled to deliver the keynote address on Saturday night at a conference in Atlanta organized by Red State, an influential conservative group. Red State chief Erick Erickson said he had dumped Trump from the 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. Trump has been accused of intimating the reason Ms Kelly gave him such a hard time was that she was menstruating.

Mr Trump said 'blood was coming out of her eyes and whatever’ meaning nose … Only a deviant would think anything else.

The Trump campaign on his spat with Megyn Kelly

Carly Fiorina, the only woman seeking the Republican nomination, also sharply criticised the bombastic billionaire. On Twitter, she wrote: “I stand with @megynkelly” and “Mr. Trump: There. Is. No. Excuse." The Trump campaign issued a defiant statement on Saturday morning, claiming he had been referring to Ms Kelly’s nose. It said: "Mr Trump made Megyn Kelly look really bad - she was a mess with her anger and totally caught off guard.”

I don’t want my daughter in the room with Donald Trump.

Red State chief Erick Erickson