WASHINGTON — The White House went the Howard Dean route in responding to Donald Trump’s allegation that Hillary Clinton was on drugs during the debate.
“I think we should take a drug test prior to the debate,” Trump said during a rally in New Hampshire on Saturday. “Because I don’t know what’s going on with her, but at the beginning of her last debate, she was all pumped up at the beginning, and at the end it was like, huff, take me down. She could barely reach her car.”
During the first presidential debate, former Democratic National Committee chairman and 2004 presidential hopeful Dean tweeted, “Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?”
Dean, a doctor by trade, told MSNBC the next day that Trump “has some interesting — that is actually a signature of people who use cocaine,” followed by, “I’m not suggesting that Trump does.”
“Here’s the interesting constellation,” Dean said. “So, he sniffs during the presentation, which is something that users do. He also has grandiosity, which is something that accompanies that problem. He has delusions. I’m not talking about being crazy, but for example, when he told everybody it was very smart not to pay taxes and then denied he said it, after he said it in front of 100 million people. It’s not that he’s delusionary about it; it’s that he thinks somehow he’s going to not get caught. That is delusional. He has trouble with pressured speech. He interrupted Hillary Clinton 29 times. He couldn’t keep himself together,” Dean continued.
He added, “So, look, do I think at 70 years old he has a cocaine habit? Probably not. But, you know, it something that — I think it would be interesting to ask him and see if he ever had a problem with that.”
At today’s White House press briefing, press secretary Josh Earnest was asked about Trump’s Saturday suggestion that candidates take a drug test.
“Well, so you’re telling me that the candidate who snorted his way through the first few debates is accusing the other candidate of taking drugs?” Earnest replied. “That’s a curious development in the campaign.”
“That’s your response?” a reported asked.
“That’s my response,” Earnest said.
Earnest then added that he was “not at all” trying to link Trump to cocaine.
“I’m just trying to have a little fun. You guys are so serious today… I was expecting more chuckles. It’s probably my flawed delivery.”
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