Bobby Jindal blasts Donald Trump as 'a narcissist'

Deborah Barfield Berry | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal went on the attack against Donald Trump on Thursday, calling his rival for the GOP presidential nomination “a narcissist” and saying Trump's campaign is “a carnival act.’’

“Donald Trump is not a serious candidate,’’ Jindal told reporters at the National Press Club. “He’s a narcissist. He’s an egomaniac. The only thing he believes in is himself. The reality is that I want to say what everybody is thinking about Donald Trump but afraid to say.’’

Trump leads in the polls, and his campaign events have drawn thousands of people. Jindal, who polls near the bottom among the 17 GOP candidates, said Trump should not be allowed to ruin Republicans’ chances to return to the White House.

“Donald Trump is shallow,’’ Jindal said. “Has no understanding of policy. He’s full of bluster. He has no substance. He lacks the intellectual curiosity to even learn. You can’t argue policy with this guy. The only thing that Donald Trump believes in is himself.’’

Trump dismissed Jindal’s comments.

“He did not make the debate stage and therefore I have never met him,’’ he said in a statement. “I only respond to people that register more than 1% in the polls. I never thought he had a chance and I’ve been proven right.”

Trump was one of 10 Republican candidates who participated in the first GOP presidential debate last month. Jindal’s performance in the polls made him ineligible.

Pearson Cross, a political scientist at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, La., called Jindal’s attacks against Trump a “smart move.’’

“Bobby Jindal is just saying what a lot of people have been thinking,’’ said Cross. “Why tiptoe around Mr. Trump just because he’s leading in the polls?’’

Cross said the attacks also reflect Jindal’s push for more media attention.

“He’s basically invited Trump to attack him, which in turn may raise his profile,’’ Cross said. “I think that’s a fight Bobby Jindal would welcome. Going toe to toe with the leader of the polls positions Jindal as also one of the major players in the race. That’s the political payoff.’’

Jindal said he hopes to prevent Trump from gaining more traction and warned that the business mogul would “self-destruct in a general election.’’

“Now we are flirting with nominating a non-serious, unstable, substance-free candidate,’’ Jindal said. “The silly summer season is over. It’s time to get serious about saving our country. It’s time to send Donald Trump back to reality TV."

Jindal, who has been courting evangelical voters, also reacted to Trump’s recent statement that the Bible is his favorite book.

“It’s clear, Donald Trump never read the Bible,’’ Jindal said. “The reason we know he’s never read the Bible — he’s not in the Bible.’’

Jindal said Republicans can’t afford to nominate Trump.

“What makes him dangerous is he could blow this opportunity we have to rescue our country,’’ he said. “It’s time for us to tell him, ‘Donald, you are fired.’’’