Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks in Lynden, Washington. Photo / AP
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks in Lynden, Washington. Photo / AP
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has plunged into attacks on two of the most popular female figures in the Democratic Party.
Trump revived previous attacks on Bill and Hillary Clinton over the former's extra-marital affairs, accusing her of being an "enabler" by attacking the women allegedly involved.
And Trump put Senator Elizabeth Warren squarely in his crosshairs during a campaign rally in Oregon, attacking the progressive firebrand while dismissing her claims to Native American heritage.
"Nobody in this country - and maybe in the history of this country, politically - was worse than Bill Clinton with women. He was a disaster. He was a disaster," Trump said. "I mean, there's never been anybody like this."
Trump drew harsh criticism earlier this year for referencing the former President's marital indiscretions. But he has continued indirectly referencing the attacks in the months since. He has used the affairs to counter-punch on accusations that he has a problem with women voters.
Facing the likelihood that he and Hillary Clinton will face each other in the general election, Trump has escalated his attacks on the former Secretary of State. Proving little is off limits in what is expected to be a nasty general election fight, he revived his previous attacks on their marriage.
"She's been the total enabler. She would go after these women and destroy their lives. She was an unbelievably nasty, mean enabler," he said. "What she did to a lot of those women was disgraceful."
The real estate mogul, who has struggled in national polls among female voters, was also blasted several weeks ago for suggesting that Clinton relied on the "women's card".
"Frankly, if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don't think she'd get 5 per cent of the vote. The only thing she's got going is the women's card," Trump said during a news conference at Trump Tower in April. "And the beautiful thing is, women don't like her."
Clinton has pushed back on the attacks, accusing the presumptive GOP presidential nominee of misogyny and linking the attacks to his controversial rhetoric on women's issues.
"He doesn't think much of equal pay for women because, of course, he doesn't' think much of women, it turns out," Clinton said during an event in California.
The real estate mogul repeatedly called Warren, the Massachusetts senator, a "goofus" and a "basket case", mocking her record in the Senate.
He also referenced scrutiny over Warren's claim that she is Native American, which became an issue during her 2012 US Senate run in the Bay State.
"Her whole career is a fraud because she goes out and she says she's a Native American. I won't use the word Indian because they say it's not a nice word to use. So I will not say Indian," he told the crowd. "She is a Native American, five per cent. And therefore her whole career because she was a minority - it's a disgrace what's going on in our country."
Senator Elizabeth Warren has got into a verbal spat with Donald Trump. Photo / AP
Warren has emerged as one of Trump's most aggressive critics, frequently blasting his brand of politics in recent months and vowing to fight to prevent him from winning the White House in November. Last Wednesday she attacked Trump in a series of tweets shortly after he seized his party's presidential nomination.
"Here's what else is real: @realDonaldTrump has built his campaign on racism, sexism, and xenophobia," Warren tweeted in one instance.
"There's more enthusiasm for [Trump] among leaders of the KKK than leaders of the political party he now controls," she wrote in another, referencing the hand-wringing within the GOP establishment over Trump's candidacy.
Trump responded in a series of tweets before continuing his attacks on stage. He later mocked rumours that she may be a potential vice-presidential running mate for Clinton.
"I think that Hillary should run with goofy Elizabeth Warren. I would love to beat them. I would love to beat them," Trump said. "They're doing the whole, she plays her woman's card. ... It's the only card she has because honestly without that card she would get nobody voting for her."
