While arguing against continued U.S. intervention in the Middle East, Donald Trump offered a mind-numbingly sexist defense of burqas: at least they dispense with the need for make-up.

At his Atkinson, New Hampshire rally ahead of his "Today" show town hall on NBC this morning, the Republican presidential candidate promised to build the strongest military in U.S. history before arguing that it won't be used to rescue women from burqas in oppressive societies.

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"They want to" wear burqas, Trump insisted. "What they hell are we getting involved for?"

"In fact, it is easier," to wear a burqa, Trump argued. "You don't have to put on make-up," he said, pointing to women in the audience before waving his hand across his face.

"Wouldn't that be easier," he asked again. "I tell ya, if I was a woman," Trump continued, signaling a burqa cover with the wave of his hand. "I'm ready darling, let's go," he said, mimicking a woman forgoing make-up for a burqa.

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Trump has been remarkably consistent in his insistence that women wearing burqas in other countries need not be "saved" by the United States. The billionaire was asked about burqas when the 2013 Miss World pageant nixed its bikini competition after host country Indonesia complained. Asked by Fox News' Brian Kilmeade if he would "ever give in to Muslim sensitives" over bikini contests in his international beauty pageants, the former proprietor of the Miss Universe pageant simply suggested moving locations.

"You shouldn't just be there," Trump said. "There are other places," he argued, noting that 18 other countries had vied to host the competition at the time.

"What about a best burqa as a comprise," Kilmeade quipped.

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"Well, maybe with the world is going, maybe that will be next," Trump mused. "Wouldn't that be beautiful," he offered sarcastically.



(h/t Boston Globe)