Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures during the first Republican presidential debate at the Quicken Loans Arena Thursday, August 6, 2015, in Cleveland. AP
Donald Trump was scratched from a Republican Party event Saturday after suggesting that a presidential debate moderator was tough on him because she was menstruating.
The off-handed comment unleashed a new storm of criticism against Trump as he seeks the party鈥檚 nomination for next year鈥檚 election and leads in the polls.
Meanwhile, US media reported that Trump鈥檚 top advisor had left his campaign, with both sides giving different accounts as to whether he was fired or quit.
The departure comes amid furious damage control, as Trump seeks to nuance his latest headline-grabbing remark.
The bombastic billionaire came under fire from his party after a particularly crude accusation that Fox 黑料社鈥� Megyn Kelly, one of the moderators at Thursday鈥檚 Republican presidential debate, had singled him out with rough treatment.
Trump had already called out the station鈥檚 moderators for asking 鈥渦nfair鈥� questions after Kelly brought up his use of derogatory language towards women in Twitter posts. Kelly asked him if this was befitting a man vying to be the US president.
But he turned up the tone Friday evening when he told CNN that Kelly 鈥渋s just somebody I didn鈥檛 have a lot of respect for.鈥�
鈥淵ou can see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever,鈥� he continued.
By Saturday, Trump鈥檚 invitation to a prominent grassroots Republican event in Atlanta 鈥� RedState Gathering 鈥� had been rescinded.
鈥淎s much as I do personally like Donald Trump, his comment about Megyn Kelly on CNN is a bridge too far for me,鈥� said conservative pundit Erick Erickson, who is hosting the RedState activist event. Trump was to have spoken at it.
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In America, states that generally vote Republican are commonly referred to as 鈥渞ed states.鈥�
鈥淗is comment was inappropriate. It is unfortunate to have to disinvite him,鈥� Erickson continued, adding that he would invite Kelly in Trump鈥檚 place.
Carly Fiorina, the only female Republican presidential candidate, tweeted: 鈥淢r. Trump: There. Is. No. Excuse.鈥�
She later added 鈥淚 stand with @megynkelly.鈥�
Wisconsin governor and Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker followed suit, tweeting: 鈥淚 agree with @CarlyFiorina, there鈥檚 no excuse for Trump鈥檚 comments. Stand with @MegynKelly.鈥�
Speaking at the RedState Gathering itself, Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee said the comments were a reflection on Trump, not the party, Politico reported.
鈥淚 hope he apologizes because I think he should,鈥� Huckabee said separately to CNN.
鈥楶olitically correct fools鈥�
Trump meanwhile backtracked from the comment about Kelly, stating that he was not referring to the body part most people had in mind from his remark on blood.
鈥淩e Megyn Kelly quote: 鈥榶ou could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever鈥� (NOSE). Just got on w/thought,鈥� Trump tweeted.
鈥淪o many 鈥榩olitically correct鈥� fools in our country. We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!鈥� he also tweeted.
A statement from the Trump campaign widely cited by US media insisted that Trump was referring to Kelly鈥檚 nose, and that 鈥渙nly a deviant would think anything else.鈥�
The statement also called Erickson 鈥渁 total loser.鈥�
Apparently as part of the spin doctoring effort, Trump is now scheduled to appear Sunday on ABC television on one of the top US current events programs, 鈥淭his Week.鈥�
The triage comes even as Trump鈥檚 campaign said Saturday it had canned its top political advisor, Roger Stone.
鈥淩oger wanted to use the campaign for his own personal publicity鈥� and Mr Trump wants to keep the focus of the campaign on how to Make America Great Again,鈥� a campaign spokesperson told CNN.
Stone, however, told the station that he quit, and showed a resignation letter he said he gave Trump stating that, 鈥渢he current controversies involving personalities and provocative media fights have reached such a high volume that it has distracted attention from your platform and overwhelmed your core message.鈥�
High viewership
A staggering 24 million viewers tuned in to Fox 黑料社 to watch the debate, and Trump was clearly a main factor.
In a brutal tweet Friday he let the broadcaster know it.
鈥淍Fox黑料社 you should be ashamed of yourself. I got you the highest debate ratings in your history & you say nothing but bad,鈥� Trump tweeted to his 3.5 million followers.
The Republicans have said they plan to host eight more debates as the party whittles down its broad field and determines its flagbearer to go against likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
In the meantime, Trump is sitting out the RedState summit, which includes appearances by Republican presidential hopefuls Fiorina, Huckabee, Walker, Chris Christie, Rick Perry, Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush.
鈥�.@redstate I miss you all, and thanks for all of your support. Political correctness is killing our country,鈥� Trump tweeted.