Donald Trump at Monday's presidential debate. Patrick Semansky/AP/Press Association Images. All rights reserved.15 months ago, when Donald J. Trump descended the Trump Tower escalator to launch his presidential campaign, he appeared to bring American civility down with him.
Announcing his intention to run, Trump called large numbers of Mexican immigrants rapists. Then, once on the campaign trial, he loudly condemned the esteemed veteran John McCain for having been a prisoner of war, and he mocked a journalist with disabilities. Trump also insinuated that tough questioning he received at a Republican candidate debate occurred because one of the moderators was menstruating. He later demanded that all Muslims be temporarily banned from entering the country.
Trump repeatedly flouted the conventional etiquette of American electioneering throughout the primaries – and his supporters rewarded him with victory after victory, culminating in Trump becoming the Republican Party’s designated nominee.
